UK spotlight: CARDIFF

Green fields and green tech are equal draws for doing business in the Welsh capital

- AMY PAY

Small in size but mighty in its business output and natural beauty, Wales is a country that is both innovative and heritage-rich. It has made great gains in an array of industries, such as manufacturing, fintech, creative and renewables, and it has one of the greenest capital cities in Europe, with city parks, gardens, wildlife areas, forests, playgrounds and bodies of water. With constant investment into key industries and better living, Cardiff- and Wales as a whole should be on your business map.

As one of the first countries to write sustainability into its statute, Wales is at the forefront of innovation, research and technology when it comes to renewables, greener living and fair trade. Manufacturing continues to be a huge industry here, spanning aerospace, automotive, low carbon, semiconductors and more, but sustainability is considered alongside production. A good example is Riversimple, which focuses on creating zero-emission hydrogen cars.

The fintech industry is firmly established too, with Starling Bank, Monzo, Admiral, confused.com, Moneysupermarket and Go.Compare all finding a home here. Associations including FinTech Wales are helping to make Wales the place to start, scale and accelerate innovative fintech businesses.

Collaboration and knowledge sharing are as important as ever for the city's businesses, organisations, thinkers and innovators. Shared workspaces and co-working offices are thriving on the whole. Places like sbarc spark on Cardiff University's Innovation Campus, the Life Sciences Hub Wales, Tramshed Tech and the newly relocated Sustainable Studio are enabling everyone from freelancers and micro businesses to industry big boys to meet, share ideas, work flexibly, collaborate and grow.

Driving creative innovation