Region

The West Midlands is a diverse and vibrant region that has the unique benefit of being located at the heart of the UK. Major local companies with headquarters  in the area include Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin, IMI, Lucas, Tarmac, GKN and Royal Doulton.

The region boasts a world-class, empowering business environment, with highly developed supply chains and professional service networks complementing our untouchable industrial pedigree.

Internationally famous names like Cadbury, Schweppes, JCB and Wedgwood started, and continue to prosper, in our region.  The West Midlands' central location, impressive infrastructure and ready-made skills base have led international companies like Fujitsu, Vodafone and Muller to locate operations in the region.

Counties

The West Midlands comprises the counties of Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire; the unitary authorities of Herefordshire, Stoke-on-Trent and Telford and Wrekin; and the seven metropolitan districts of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton. 

Population

The West Midlands contains one of the largest conurbations in England, as well as some of the country’s most rural and sparsely populated counties. It is also has the most ethnically diverse regional population outside London.



Total population is 5.4 million people, with Birmingham home to one million people and a population density of nearly 3,800 people per square kilometre. In contrast, two of the five most sparsely populated counties in England are also found in the region, Herefordshire Unitary Authority (82 people per sq km), and Shropshire (91 people per sq km). 

Between 2001 and 2007 the population increased by 101,000, or 1.9 per cent - significantly below the corresponding rate of 3.3 per cent for England. Projections indicate that the rate of population growth will remain below the national average. Total population is projected to reach nearly six million by 2026. 



In 2007, 19.5 per cent of residents were aged under 16, the highest proportion for any English region. The overall proportion in England was 18.9 per cent. The proportion aged over 65 was, at 16.4 per cent, slightly above the corresponding proportion of 16.0 per cent for England. This is projected to increase to 21 per cent by 2026, again slightly above England as a whole (20 per cent).



Economy 

The West Midlands contributes over 7 per cent of the UK’s gross value added (GVA) − a key measure of the economic performance of a region. The region’s headline GVA was £94 billion in 2008.




The region has undergone major economic restructuring over the past two decades, with the relative share of employment and wealth generation transferring from the manufacturing sector to service sectors.





The employment rate for the region’s working-age residents was 70.6 per cent in January 2010 to March 2010.