Facts About Renfrewshire for Businesses
Location
Paisley is located seven miles, or a 20 minute car journey, from the Glasgow city centre. From Renfrewshire, it takes around an hour and a half to travel to Scotland's capital city of Edinburgh. Renfrewshire hosts Glasgow International Airport, located five minutes by car, taxi or bus from Paisley town centre. Gilmour Street Rail Station is located in Paisley's town centre and has good connecting rail links throughout Scotland.
Population
Renfrewshire has a total population of 353,000, with Paisley being the largest town in Scotland, with a population of over 79,000. 145,000 employees reside in the area and enjoy an abundance of affordable housing across the region. The region has 108 primary schools, 29 secondary, two colleges, and one university. Average weekly earnings are above the Scottish average at ?373.10 (2000 figures).
Places of interest include Muirshiel Country Park, Paisley Abbey, and Coats Memorial Church.
The area boasts some of the best sports and leisure activities available in Scotland, ranging from ice-hockey to inshore or coastal sailing.
Business Stock
Renfrewshire enjoys good communications and transport links.
The region is home to many of the world's top technology and industrial manufacturers. These maufacturers are suppored by a number of international transport and logistics companies. Key sectors include IT, manufacturing, engineering, chemicals, aerospace, and contact centres. Well known employers include Rolls Royce, Ciba, Diageo, Chivas, Braehead, Graham Technology, Arriva, Aulds, and Mackays.
Renfrewshire accounts for over one third of Scotland's manufactured exports. The total value of manufacturing exports is £6,039.4 million. The European Union is the destination for 77 per cent of all local exports. The electronics industry accounts for 93 per cent of export value, worth £5,619.6 million.
A total of 5,600 VAT registered businesses are operating in Renfrewshire. There are 120,400 people in employment across the region.
Employment is forecast to grow locally by four per cent to 2008, with banking, finance and insurance the fastest growing areas.
University of the West of Scotland
Founded in 1897 to offer vocational courses, they began offering degree studies in the early 1900's and matured to University status in 1992. Today, the University of the West of Scotland has an enviable reputation for innovation and excellence, and is widening the provision of higher education in the west and south-west of Scotland with its additional campuses in Ayr and Dumfries. Currently the University has some 1,300 staff guiding more that 10,000 students in over 100 degree courses designed to give them the qualifications, skills and personal attributes they need to compete in the employment market and make a valued contribution within their chosen career.
Reid Kerr College
Is one of the fastest growing further education colleges in Scotland. Reid Kerr College offers an extensive range of courses in a variety of areas including business & management, construction, computing & e-commerce, engineering, hospitality, hairdressing & beauty, science, sport, health & care, creative arts, languages, communication and support for learning. Courses are available on a full-time, part-time, day or evening basis or by distance learning and cover a range of levels from NC, Highers, HNCs and HNDs to professional qualifications.
Reid Kerr also provides training and staff development customised to meet business and commercial needs. Working in partnership with organisations, locally, nationally and internationally Reid Kerr assists companies in the development and growth of their business.
