How can Newport City Council help my business?

Our experienced team of advisers can provide free and confidential business support to businesses that are located within the city council boundaries or are considering setting up operations here. We can help businesses of any size from start-ups to major inward investment projects.

We can help you find the right site or premises, identify sources of funding, offer assistance through planning and other Council services, and give you the facts and figures you need. We can also help you access expert advice from other agencies, just get in touch!

Is financial assistance available for businesses investing or expanding in Newport?

Yes, there are a variety of financial incentives for companies relocating to or expanding within Newport.

Grants are available from Newport City Council, generally up to £5,000.

There are also grants available from the Welsh Assembly Government.

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Can you help me find a suitable property or land for my business?

Yes, let us know your requirements and we can suggest options. Newport’s land prices and office rentals are highly competitive. Business developments are taking place adjacent to the M4 and around the city centre as part of the city’s regeneration scheme.

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What are Newport’s population and workforce figures?

Newport’s resident population is over 140,000. The population is planned to grow by 10,000 over the next decade.

An estimated 479,000 economically active persons live within a 30-minute drive time – that includes the city of Cardiff and parts of Bristol. Over 1.6 million live within a one-hour drive.

What are transport links like in Newport?

Newport is served by excellent road, rail, sea and air services making it an ideal strategic business location. Investors can expect high-speed links by motorway or rail to all the important marketplaces of Britain and Europe.

The M4 motorway crosses Newport and the city has fast rail-links to major cities in the UK (London is only 110 minutes away by train). The nearest airports are at Cardiff (35 minutes drive time) and Bristol (55 minutes drive time). Heathrow is just two hours drive time away.

Newport has a port which can handle up to 40,000 tonnes.

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Is Newport expensive?

Newport is a cost competitive business location.

Newport’s land prices and office rentals are highly competitive given the city’s M4 corridor location. View comparisons of land prices and office rentals between Newport and other cities.

Average gross weekly pay for employees is around 94% of the GB average.

The average price for a residential property in Newport is 80% of the average for England and Wales.

There are a variety of financial incentives for companies relocating to or expanding within Newport. Grants are available from both Newport City Council and the Welsh Assembly Government.

Are any well known companies located in Newport?

Big, well known businesses and organisations in Newport are Wilkinsons Hardware Stores, Lloyds TSB Insurance, HSBC, HM Prison Service, Office for National Statistics, Patent Office, Yell, Quinn Radiators, Wales and West Utilities and Admiral.

See what businesses say about setting up in Newport

Are there universities in or near Newport?

Newport is a University City. The University of Wales, Newport (opens new website) has 8,000 full and part time students on two campuses, offering around 100 different courses to degree, professional qualification and HND standard. The university provides a range of services to businesses.

Other universities within 30 miles of Newport are Cardiff, UWIC, Glamorgan, Bristol and West of England. The annual output of first-degree graduates from 6 universities within 30 miles of Newport is over 17,000.

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If you would like to know more about starting or locating a business in Newport please get in touch and we will be happy to help.

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