Business, Professional & Financial Services

We have a thriving business, professional and financial services sector, with a long history centred on Coventry City Centre, Leamington, Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick. Many businesses have chosen to locate their headquarters here.

With a diverse cluster of national and international businesses located in and around the city, Coventry & Warwickshire is an attractive location for professional and financial service firms.

As Coventry & Warwickshire continues to thrive in a globally competitive market, the international business, professional and financial service sector is aligned with the strengths that the sub-region offers in terms of infrastructure, expertise, and talent.

Companies employing 80,000 people

International graduates specialising in the sector

IN GOOD COMPANY - THE KEY PLAYERS

Expertise

Coventry & Warwickshire has a wealth of expertise: Barclays, Coventry Building Society, NFU Mutual, Skills England, Talbots Law, Segro, E.ON, Octopus Energy, Severn Trent, Santander and Shakespeare Martineau are just some of the major BPFS companies in Coventry & Warwickshire.

Sector strengths

Locating here gives businesses in the sector the opportunity to access potential clients in key sectors for Coventry & Warwickshire, such as advanced manufacturing, creative and digital and transport technologies and future mobility.

Business District

TWO FRIARGATE represents a new opportunity for the region in the form of a premier office building as part of Coventry's business district.

Infrastructure

Continually developing infrastructure across Coventry & Warwickshire is a huge asset for businesses looking to relocate, expand and benefit from the resources, talent and business connections locally.

Cost effective working

For companies considering new ways of working, with regional operations other than a major London HQ, Coventry & Warwickshire fits the bill. Commercial premises can be up to 60% cheaper than in London, yet we are just 60 minutes from the capital.

The UK's Largest Regional Hub

Coventry & Warwickshire contribute to the largest regional financial and professional services hub in the UK.

Transport

The region is easily accessible, with direct transport links to other major cities across the UK via the mainline railway station and direct access to Birmingham International airport, connecting Coventry & Warwickshire internationally.

Talent

Coventry & Warwickshire is home to a host of talent. University graduates, talented apprentices and globally recognised research centres.

Leading universities

Talent from our two leading universities, Coventry University and University of Warwick. Coventry Business School has almost 6,000 students enrolled and Warwick Business School has around 6,500 students enrolled in undergraduate, postgraduate and diploma courses.

Diversity

Coventry & Warwickshire’s population is diverse, with labour costs in the sector up to 40% lower than London. There is therefore huge potential to develop your business and grow in Coventry and Warwickshire within the BPFS sector.

We’ve been part of the city since 1884 and today are the UK’s second largest building society with assets exceeding £38 billion. Coventry’s central location helps to attract the talent we need to support our ongoing growth and we offer a wide range of roles, including many specialist functions that are rarely found outside London.

Coventry Building Society

"With arguably the best two universities in the UK, Coventry & Warwickshire has the power to reach out to a global audience and attract the best talent the world has to offer."

State Bank of India

Senior Banking Associate - Coventry Branch

Sector ecosystem

Friargate Coventry presents 25 efficient and sustainable buildings, creating 15,000 new jobs. Grade A office buildings, One and Two Friargate, have already been completed and are home to E.ON, The Financial Ombudsman Service, CAFCASS, Ofqual, Coventry City Council, Octopus Energy Group and Segro with Coffee No. 1 and the recently opened “Elle’s” providing a fantastic new food, beverage and hospitality experience. The four-star 100 room boutique Hotel Indigo opened in January 2024 and continues to set the standard for accommodation in the city.

Warwick Business School: A leading UK Business School at the forefront of innovation, offering some of the top business programmes in the UK and globally. The school welcomes the future problem solvers, value creators, students, faculty, staff, corporate partners and change makers who share the universities intellectual curiosity and values and have a passionate drive to make a positive difference in the world of business and beyond. Warwick Business School is the largest department at the University of Warwick with a global network of over 62,642 alumni in more than 176 countries.

Coventry University Business School: With over 50 years of experience teaching business, Coventry Business School strives to provide a dynamic and enterprising education experience for its students. The large scale, full service business school, offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, professional development courses, and business support to local, regional and national partners.

Coventry & Warwickshire First is the only forum exclusively for professional and financial services firms in the region. Run by its members for its members, its purpose is to be the voice of the professionals in Coventry and Warwickshire, provide members with valuable insights and help them develop relationships that grow their businesses.

Coventry and Warwickshire Champions unites businesses, organisations and individuals across the area in a powerful network to help develop and promote Coventry and Warwickshire and raise its profile.

Both networks host regular events, providing fantastic networking opportunities across the sector.

Opposite the Friargate Coventry development is the recently transformed Bourn building, featuring a striking double-height reception, contemporary design, and a dual entrance linking directly to the railway station and local amenities.

Bourn is home to leading businesses Corona Energy, Cambridge OCR and Global Insurance Management.

Dedicated flexible working accommodation and coworking spaces provide opportunities for smaller companies looking to start-up and grow in Coventry and Warwickshire.

1 Mill Street in Leamington Spa offers state of the art facilities and is a thriving hub for hot-deskers, hybrid workers, freelancers and business owners.

FigFlex Coventry at Friars House, right next to the Friargate development, offers coworking space and state of the art meeting rooms and business lounge.

IN GOOD COMPANY - THE KEY PLAYERS

Sector ecosystem

Enter into the UK's largest regional BPFS cluster with global corporates like HSBC UK and Goldman Sachs

Direct transport links to major cities including Birmingham and London, across the UK & internationally.

Commercial space up to 60% cheaper than London

Be part of the UK's Most Dynamic Economy