London is the South of England’s largest and most important economic driver. The international financial hub is also a major European and global business destination. In the coming years, several regeneration projects will continue to reinforce the capital’s position as an economic powerhouse.

New Covent Garden Market

One such project is the New Covent Garden Market. In addition to developing up to 2,800 new homes, the £2 billion project will redevelop an estimated 115,000 square feet of commercial space. Construction on New Covent Garden began in 1971 and it opened in 1974 as the largest wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower market in the UK. Forty years later, the site is now being developed to provide a better experience for businesses and visitors. Once complete, the redeveloped New Covent Garden Market will serve as a gateway to Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea and the project will help transform the area as an exciting place to do business and live. Nearby developments include the new Embassy of the United States and the redevelopment of Battersea Power Generation. For more information go to brand.newcoventgardenmarket.com.

Silvertown

In East London, the Silvertown regeneration project at the Royal Docks area has the potential to add more than four million square feet of commercial spaces. The site could also see the addition of almost 3,000 new homes. Silverton is planned as a multi-phase project and the 25-hectare (62-acre) site has the potential development cost of £3.5 billion. It is already connected to leading commercial developments such as London City Airport and the Excel Centre and will be a five minute walk from the Custom House Crossrail station, which is scheduled to open in 2018. Silvertown includes Millennium Mills, a new home for 150 innovative businesses with flexible workspaces. For more information go to www.silvertownlondon.com. Read more »

For much of the twentieth century, Tulsa was known as the Oil Capital of the World. The city played an important role in the American oil industry until the decline of the industry led to a more diversified economy. Today, Tulsa’s economy is based on a number of sectors including energy, finance, aviation, telecommunications and technology. The city sits on the banks of the Arkansas River in the Green Country region at the foot of the Ozark Mountains. A major regional hub for art and culture, Tulsa is home to 403,505 people and is the second largest city in Oklahoma.

When looking at good locations to start a business, a number of factors come into play. These include access to resources such as financing and talent. Other factors include labor costs, standard of living, and affordability of office spaces. Tulsa benefits from many of these factors, making it one of the best places to do business in the country. In 2016, Tulsa ranked ninth in WalletHub’s annual ranking of the best large cities to start a business in the United States. The same study ranked the city fourth in terms of business costs, recognizing the city’s relatively low start-up, operating and labor costs. The city was also ranked among the top 50 cities by BusinessWeek in 2012.

Business and Infrastructure in Tulsa

Tulsa benefits from excellent infrastructure that supports new and established businesses alike. The Tulsa Port of Catoosa sits at the head of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. It is the most inland river port in the United States and provides access to international waterways, making it a vital connection to global markets. Tulsa International Airport also connects the area with major markets across the U.S., including Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Denver, Houston and other cities. Tulsa is also home to the University of Tulsa and Oral Roberts University, two top colleges that offer businesses a strong skilled talent and other resources. Approximately 67,540 college students live within 50 miles of Tulsa, which also has branches of the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. Read more »