NEWS & EVENTS
National news
City slickers' dream of the rural idyll
15.01.2007
It's official. City working has had its day. Researchı published today shows that half (50%) of UK bosses, based in an urban environment, are dreaming of escaping the rat race to find their own small slice of rural happiness.
The research, conducted on behalf of Cornwall Pure Business, the county's inward investment body, established that the South West scored particularly well as the 'dream business location' with the top spot taken by Cornwall (13%), closely followed by Devon (11%). The Scottish Highlands also fared well taking third place with 10 per cent of the vote. The least popular places for business relocation are the Norfolk Broads (2%), followed by Wales / West Pembrokeshire (3%) and the Yorkshire Dales (5%).
The survey revealed that 15 per cent of UK owners, managers and senior executives want to move all or part of their existing business to a less urban location. A further fifth (21%) want to work for their own or another organisation in the countryside and 14 per cent have a desire to set up their own new business far away from a city environment.
What's more, nearly two thirds (64%) of those seriously considering relocation plan to make their dream a reality in the short term (between one month and five years). And, the favoured location for a new or relocated business venture would be a village in the countryside (28%).
The Cornwall Pure Business survey found that the key motivators for wanting to start a 'new life in the country' are creating a better environment for family and greater personal well-being (75%), attaining a better work-life balance (71%) and reducing commuting time (45%), showing the stresses of working in the city are taking the toll on family and personal life.
It also highlighted reasons why so many are yet to go ahead with a move. The main barriers to relocation to a less urban environment were identified as raising the necessary finance (25%), a perceived lack of access to technology (25%), impact on current employees (25%) and the belief that a move would have a negative impact on the business' bottom line (22%).
Lucy Thom, Inward Investment Manager at Cornwall Pure Business commented: "More and more businesses are seeing the benefits of living and working in a rural environment. We recently surveyed 49 businesses who have made the move to Cornwall to establish if their dreams of relocating had been realised. The two key drivers for relocating were obtaining a better environment for their family and themselves (69%) and a further 42% were after a better work life balance. Nearly all of those interviewed said these aspirations had been met. Businesses also were positive with regards to the networking available in Cornwall, the community spirit and the level of business support available. Encouragingly three quarters of new businesses said they have had a positive experience making the move.
"Cornwall's environment, culture and community make it a great place to do business. We have seen an increase in businesses showing an interest in the county, whether they be home-based ventures in IT and media to larger organisations in marine and environmental technology. Fundamentally, these high growth businesses are going to be bringing long term benefits to Cornwall, through the development of knowledge transfer, opening up employment opportunities for local people and transforming our economy."
Sir John Banham, Chairman of Johnson Matthey Plc, was born in the South West, and is championing the growth of new business in the rural economy.
He says: "It's very encouraging that so many businesses are considering the benefits of working in less urban environments. I have spent some years mentoring growing businesses in Cornwall and the spirit of innovation that exists in the local business community demonstrates that you don't need a city postcode to be a success.
"Economically, the business landscape of the UK is changing. With the growth of a more knowledge-based economy and developments in technology many businesses are no longer limited geographically by infrastructure and convenience to customers. Instead, they are able to locate to areas that better suit their employees and reap dividends such as increased staff loyalty and better quality of life."
The areas most people would like to relocate from are the London (44%), followed by the North West, the East of England and Northern Ireland (each with 36%) and the West Midlands (33%).
ENDS
For media enquiries please contact:
Graeme Jackson or Jemma Watkins
Bray Leino Public Relations
Tel: 0117 9731173
Direct line: 01179 064518 / 0117 906 4549
Mobile: 07738 642010 / 07725 423192
Email: gjackson@brayleino.co.uk / jwatkins@brayleino.co.uk
Lucy Thom - Inward Investment Manager, Cornwall Pure Business
Landline: 01872 833 603
Email: lucy@cornwallpurebusiness.co.uk
Interview opportunities with business people who have successfully relocated to Cornwall are available by request.
Notes to editor:
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.
1.YouGov survey, Dec 2006. Total sample size was 1,157 adults (business owners, managers and senior executives). Fieldwork was undertaken between 13-19th December 2006.The survey was carried out online.
2. Relocator Research
Undertaken by PFA Research in January 2007. 49 Relocators to Cornwall, with the average turnover of £163,000 were interviewed. More than 90% of those interviewed had relocated in the past five years. Further information is available.
Cornwall Pure Business
Cornwall Pure Business (CPB) is designed as a red carpet service to target and attract inward investment in key sectors through a co-ordinated one stop service for businesses. The service helps relocators to source locations and business premises; grants and loans; secure IT, telecoms and broadband and provides advice on recruitment, training and education. Additionally, CPB is able to facilitate meetings with key personnel in local and regional institutions who can provide businesses with valuable input and further support. Cornwall Pure Business, is a service of Cornwall Enterprise and jointly funded by European Objective One and Cornwall County Council.
Cornwall Enterprise
Cornwall Enterprise is the economic development service for Cornwall County Council and its mission is to achieve sustainable prosperity for Cornwall. It co-ordinates and enables partnerships and has helped to develop the economic development strategy for the county.
Sir John Banham
Former Director General of the CBI, he set up a number of initiatives which focused on developing closer relationships between 'Government and Business' and 'Business and Education'. Sir John is currently Chairman of Johnson Matthey Plc. After leaving the CBI, he was Director/Chairman of a wide cross-section of companies, including: National Power, National Westminster Bank, Westcountry Television, Labatt Breweries, At Tarmac, Whitbread, Kingfisher and Geest. He led the Audit Commission and the Local Government Commission for England and saved the taxpayer well over £1 billion a year.
Cornwall Pure Business is a service of Cornwall Enterprise