Location and infrastructure - Print version

Superb central location

Situated in the centre of the UK, Coventry and Warwickshire is an enviable location for any business to be located. Being at the heart of Britain's transport network provides links to road and rail that the rest of the UK strives for.

Coventry and Warwickshire is a well-connected central location. At the heart of the UK motorway network with easy access to M1, M5, M6, M69, M40, M42 and M45, excellent rail links to the whole of the UK and in close proximity to 2 major airports, basking your business here gives you easy national and international access.

View larger map [/images/Coventry_connections_map_showing_regional_airport_and_railway_stations.png]

Drive

75% of England is within a 2-hour drive time of Coventry and 6 million people within a 1 hour drive time. Convenient motorway networks include the M6, M40, M42, M45 and M69 and close proximity to the M1 and M5. This network, along with the A14 and A5, provides access to all parts of the UK.

17 miles to Birmingham, 87 miles to London.

Rail

Coventry is located on the Western mainline in the centre of England and is accessible by rail to London in only 59 minutes, and in 20 mins to Birmingham.

Given our location at the heart of the logistics ‘Golden Triangle’, and the number of important Advanced Manufacturing companies in the proximity, it’s not surprising that the area has excellent links to the UK rail freight infrastructure.

ABP Hams Hall Rail Freight Terminal at Coleshill connects with the ports of Southampton, Felixstowe and Ipswich plus, via the Channel Tunnel, Novara in Italy and domestic intermodal services to Mossend - Glasgow. Birmingham Intermodal Freight Terminal (BIFT) located at Birch Coppice, receives seven Freight Trains daily from the UK ports of Felixstowe, Southampton, Tilbury and Thamesport.

Daventry International Rail Terminal (DIRFT) next to Rugby is expanding with a third phase and will have the capacity to handle up to 32 trains per day. There are daily train services operated between DIRFT, Grangemouth, and Mossend providing a crucial link between ports, production facilities and distribution terminals.

Air

Coventry is ideally positioned to be close to two major airports and includes a general and private airport based in Coventry.

• Birmingham Airport [https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/] is a major airport that is just 20 minutes or less by rail or road from Coventry.
• East Midlands Airport [http://www.eastmidlandsairport.com/] is only 35 minutes away by road and provides further options for European destinations.
• Coventry Airport [http://www.coventryairport.co.uk/] is part of Regional & City Airports, one of the leading owners and operators of regional airports in the UK.

Investing in infrastructure

Developments

The very fabric of Coventry is changing. New developments and regeneration of the city are ongoing across Coventry that will deliver purpose built buildings to allow new and existing business to thrive in our local economy. For more information see our key investment sites page [/keyinvestmentsites].

Transport

Millions of pounds are being invested in Coventry's roads to create space for development and make sure traffic flows more smoothly. Most recently, Coventry Railway Station reached completion in early 2020.

Communications

Recognised as a fundamental enabler of business success there are several initiatives in place to ensure the City and our businesses have access to the best communications and digital infrastructure possible: these include:

• Coventry is the 9th best-connected city in the UK [https://www.gocompare.com/new-interactives-content/connected-cities/list.html] - GoCompare UK Most Connected Cities 2022 report
• Major investment in 5G connections - Digital Coventry [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/237/digital_coventry]
• The CSW Broadband project [http://www.cswbroadband.org.uk]is bringing superfast speeds to more homes across Coventry, Solihull & Warwickshire
• Small and medium-sized enterprises in Coventry and Warwickshire can access support with installation costs to upgrade to gigabit-capable broadband through the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme [https://gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk/]

Facts and statistics

Facts

• Coventry is one of the top cities in the country for jobs growth, patents granted and business growth over the past decade [http://www.centreforcities.org/city/coventry/].
• Coventry is the 9th best connected city in the UK - GoCompare UK's most connected cities [https://www.gocompare.com/new-interactives-content/connected-cities/list.html]
• Coventry is the leading vehicle design, development and powertrain centre in the UK
• Over 67,000 students at our two internationally renowned universities 
• 21 universities are within a one hour drive, producing in excess of 100,000 graduates per year.
• Coventry is in the world's top 50 student friendly cities and Top 10 in the UK  (QS 2024)
• The University of Warwick is rated:
  •  9th University in The best UK universities 2024 league table from The Guardian [https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2023/sep/09/the-guardian-university-guide-2024-the-rankings] and,
  • is in the top 5 universities targeted by the most top employers - The Graduate Market in 2023, High Fliers Research Ltd [https://www.highfliers.co.uk/download/2023/graduate_market/GMReport23.pdf].
• 75% of England is within a 2 hour drive time of Coventry.
• 10% of all UK Automotive jobs are in Coventry and Warwickshire.
• On average each firm in Coventry and Warwickshire spent £15,000 on research and development, that’s more than twice the UK figure of £6,800.

Statistics

• Coventry population (2021): 344,200
• Coventry workforce (Oct 2022- Sept 23): 198,000
• Active Coventry businesses (2023): 10,335

For the most up-to-date information see the latest headline statistics report [/downloads/download/1875/headline_statistics] or visit Facts about Coventry [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/factsaboutcoventry].