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To maintain its place in the local, national and international market place Cheshire is building on its success to keep the local economy vibrant. Latest available figures (2001) show that the county has approaching 21,000 VAT-registered businesses, and during the six-year period preceding 2001, the number of businesses overall rose by 1.8 per cent. Projected forecasts indicate that during the five years up to 2005 employment will grow by 0.3 per cent each year. Projects include a £200m scheme to promote the Northgate Development in Chester, creating a cosmopolitan new city quarter which will comprise all the traditional features of the city’s proud heritage yet introduce exciting new features such as a replacement theatre and market hall and dwellings.
 To the east of the county, AstraZeneca, one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, is investing around £100m in building development at its sites in Alderley Park and Silk Road Business Park in Macclesfield.
The Web’s Wonder
Searching for a venue for business relocation? Maybe we can help.
Over 900 website entries updated daily makes Cheshire’s Internet Business Location Service the most extensive single listing of commercial premises and sites in the county.
As part of the Council’s Economic Development unit, a skilled team can conduct tailored searches to provide a complete package for relocation comprising information on grants, planning advice, highways, skills and wage rates.
 Visitors to the site can also make free use of the Online Business Directory listing contact details of around 4000 local businesses. Updated regularly,it provides the most extensive business listing in Cheshire.
A six-acre site in Crewe is to benefit from a £10m boost for new retail and leisure opportunities and at its business park a further 600 new jobs are to be created by Fujitsu.
A ten-year programme spearheaded by MBNA, the world’s largest independent credit card issuer, will increase its workforce by 2,700.
 At Ellesmere Port the transfer of Vectra production from Luton is securing in the North West the future of 4500 jobs and has also helped create an extra 500 new jobs at the Ryder Logistics plant - a key part of car component supply - at the adjacent Hooton Park industrial base.
New and energetic business - large or small - is the lifeblood of any local economy. But getting off the starting blocks can sometimes be the greatest obstacle.
In Cheshire it needn’t be. For on hand there is a wealth of expertise and advice to help new enterprise flourish - with the 800 commercial and industrial premises and 100 sites to act as a springboard for development.
The Council’s Economic Development Unit offers a packaged fast, free and confidential service through a tailor-made web-based Business Location Service to provide information on sites and premises to all existing and potential industrial and commercial investment within the county - 24 hours a day.
This includes online Business Directory access to a daily updated database - Cheshire’s largest - giving an at a glance guide to turnover or employee numbers.
Cheshire welcomes entrepreneurial spirit, drive and innovation. To help it flourish advice is available to ensure business and commerce maximise their potential for expansion through research and grant information.
High-profile companies which have taken advantage of this service include Shell UK Chemicals, MBNA International Bank (USA), Bristol Myers Squibb (USA), Barry UK Ltd (France),The Milk Marketing Board, BradfordSoap (USA) and Sokkia of Japan, Ryder Logistics and Emirates.
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