Traditional Sectors

The Midlands Engine economy is supported by ten key sectors that drive growth, employment, and innovation in the region. The largest sector by GVA is Business, Professional, and Financial Services (£77.9bn), while the smallest is the Visitor Economy (£10.8bn). Sectors such as Healthcare & Life Sciences, Energy & Low Carbon, and Transport Technologies & Logistics also play significant roles, contributing to both regional and national economic output. Together, these industries form the foundation of the Midlands Engine’s economic prosperity.

Please note that the statistics on this page are rated using a colour-coded system based on year-over-year changes in sector performance. Sectors showing an increase of 2.5% or more are rated as green (with an up arrow, indicating high growth), those showing an increase of up to 2.4% are rated as blue (with a sideways arrow, indicating moderate growth), and sectors showing a decrease are rated as red (with a down arrow, indicating decline in growth)

Advanced Manufacturing is the second largest sector in the Midlands Engine with £42.8bn GVA translating to £79,277 GVA per employee. The sector is composed of an approximate 24,600 enterprises employing a total of 539,375 people.

The sector represents 15.4% of the Midlands Engine economy, and a mammoth 20.3% share of the UK’s Advanced Manufacturing sector.

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Midlands Engine Supply Chain Research Report: Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chains

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Business, Professional & Financial Services is the largest sector in the Midlands Engine with £77.9bn GVA translating to £86,024 GVA per Employee. The sector is composed of an approximate 110,395 enterprises employing a total of 905,980 people.

The sector represents 28.1% of the Midlands Engine economy, and 9.7% of the UK’s wider Business, Professional and Financial Services.

Construction is the sixth largest sector in the Midlands Engine with £20.3bn GVA translating to £62,565 GVA per Employee. The sector is composed of an approximate 58,250 enterprises employing a total of 323,745 people.

The sector represents 7.3% of the Midlands Engine economy, and 13.1% of the UK’s Construction sector.

Creative, Design & Digital is the ninth largest sector in the Midlands Engine with £10.9bn GVA translating to £85,504 GVA per Employee. The sector is composed of an approximate 17,555 enterprises employing a total of 127,655 people.

The sector represents 3.9% of the Midlands Engine economy, and 7.4% of the UK’s Creative, Design & Digital sector.

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Energy & Low Carbon Activities is the eighth largest sector in the Midlands Engine with £11.6bn GVA translating to £116,232 GVA per Employee. The sector is composed of an approximate 22,735 enterprises employing a total of 99,370 people.

The sector represents 4.2% of the Midlands Engine economy, and 13.2% of the UK’s Energy & Low Carbon sector.

Healthcare & Life Sciences is the fifth largest sector in the Midlands Engine with £24.4bn GVA translating to £37,882 GVA per Employee. The sector is composed of an approximate 16,030 enterprises employing a total of 643,200 people.

The sector represents 8.8% of the Midlands Engine economy, and 13.9% of the UK’s Healthcare & Life Sciences sector.

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Health & Life Sciences Factsheet

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The Public Sector (including Education) is the fourth largest sector in the Midlands Engine with £32.8bn GVA translating to £56,881 GVA per Employee. The sector is composed of an approximate 8,040 enterprises employing a total of 576,800 people.

The sector represents 11.8% of the Midlands Engine economy, and 13.1% of the UK’s Public Sector (including Education).

Retail is the third largest sector in the Midlands Engine with £33.7bn GVA translating to £48,674 GVA per Employee. The sector is composed of an approximate 62,650 enterprises employing a total of 692,750 people.

The sector represents 12.2% of the Midlands Engine economy, and 14.4% of the UK’s Retail sector.

Transport Technologies & Logistics is the seventh largest sector in the Midlands Engine with £12.2bn GVA translating to £41,907 GVA per Employee. The sector is composed of an approximate 25,705 enterprises employing a total of 290,855 people.

The sector represents 4.4% of the Midlands Engine economy, and 15.4% of the UK’s Transport Technologies & Logistics sector.

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The Visitor Economy is the tenth and smallest traditional sector in the Midlands Engine with £10.8bn GVA translating to £26,491 GVA per Employee. The sector is composed of an approximate 31,495 enterprises employing a total of 407,985 people.

The sector represents 3.9% of the Midlands Engine economy, and 10.6% of the UK’s Visitor Economy sector.

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Visitor Economy Factsheet

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