Work - WAH Business Archive 06-07

Urban Businesses Crave a Good Life in the Country

22 Jan 2007

Urban Businesses Crave a Good Life in the Country

It?s official. City working has had its day.
Research¹ published this week 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, found that 15% 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 % 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 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% 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 findings reflect a recent Halifax² survey which shows the South West is the most popular destination for internal migration, with more than 300,000 people relocating to the region from other parts of the UK between 1995 and 2005, boosting the region's population by six%.

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%).

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.?

Lucy Thom, Head of Cornwall Pure Business, says: ?Over the past few years, we have helped owners of businesses, from home-based ventures in IT and media to larger organisations in marine and environmental technology, realise their dreams of exchanging the hustle and bustle of city-based working for a rural environment. By doing so, these businesses find themselves joining a thriving and creative community, with the added benefits of a better environment for family and greater personal wellbeing.?

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%).

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