The West Midlands is the industrial and innovation heart of the UK, generating a Gross Value Added (GVA) of over £157 billion and supporting a workforce of roughly 2.9 million. As the nation’s fastest-growing tech destination outside London, it acts as a critical bridge between the capital and the north. The region’s economy is a powerhouse of trade, responsible for £32 billion in annual exports, driven by a unique convergence of world-class manufacturing and high-speed logistics.

Today, the region has pivoted from traditional heavy industry to become a global leader in Green Technology and Advanced Engineering. It anchors the UK’s automotive sector, producing one-third of all British cars, and is spearheading the net-zero transition through the West Midlands Gigafactory and electric vehicle supply chains. This industrial might is balanced by a booming professional services cluster in Birmingham and a £15 billion digital economy.

Forecasts project the region will see GVA growth of 1.5% in 2025 (EY Regional Forecast), aligning with the national recovery. Long-term expansion is underpinned by the “Plan for Growth,” which targets the creation of 100,000 new jobs by 2035 in low-carbon and data-driven industries, ensuring the West Midlands remains the engine room of the UK economy.