Discover the West Midlands
The West Midlands is a truly diverse area which covers an area of 12,998 sq km and stretches from the Peak District to the Cotswolds and from the Welsh border to the M1 motorway.
Located in the heart of England, the West Midlands comprises the counties of Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire; the unitary authorities of Shropshire, Herefordshire, Stoke-on-Trent and Telford and Wrekin; and the seven metropolitan districts of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
The population is around 5.41million, of whom more than half live in the conurbations, while over 2 million reside in the rural counties, which cover three-quarters of the West Midlands.
The West Midlands contains all or part of five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and part of the Peak District National Park. It offers diverse cultural experiences that include the Ironbridge World Heritage Site in Shropshire and the unique assets of Shakespeare Country in Warwickshire, as well as 32,000 listed buildings and many historic houses, parks and major sporting facilities.
The West Midlands is at the heart of the country’s road and rail network and also has the UK's fifth largest airport, Birmingham International Airport.
As the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, the West Midlands was once known as the workshop of the world. Now, 150 years on it continues to influence the world. It boasts a world-class business environment, with highly developed supply chains and professional service networks that complement its untouchable industrial pedigree.
However, since 1995, the West Midlands has lost over 200,000 jobs in manufacturing industries. The sector remains a very important element in the economy, accounting for around 15% of all regional employment. At the same time the service sector has expanded, increasing by over 300,000 jobs and now represents almost 75% of the region’s employment.
The West Midlands is a major exporting region, accounting for approximately 8% of the national total by value. It has also proved successful in attracting foreign direct investment – attracting over 2000 overseas companies to set up facilities here, with the main centres being Birmingham, Coventry and Telford.
Despite this diversification the region is still dealing with the economic, social and structural consequences of its past dependence on traditional industries which is reflected in its poor performance across a range of indicators.