Glasgow is Scotland's main centre, with excellent road, rail,
shipping and air services.
All businesses benefit from the extensive public transport
network of rail and bus routes which allows access to over 1.5
million people in a 45 minute travel to work area. This produces a
large labour pool making it an excellent choice for company
relocation.
The city's well developed transport infrastructure includes an
underground rail system, providing close interchange with the
suburban, national rail network and bus links.
And, the commitment to further improve Glasgow's connectivity is
already in place with over one billion pounds earmarked for
investment in new air, road and rail links over the next three
years.
Air
Glasgow has three major international airports within 45 minutes
of the city centre.
The terminals at Glasgow, Prestwick and Edinburgh offer a huge
variety and choice to international and domestic travellers.
Glasgow Airport itself is only 15 minutes from the IFSD via the
M8 motorway.
Handling over 8 million passengers per year, Glasgow Airport is
home to over 30 airlines, servicing a total of 90 destinations".
(Source - BAA)
International business travellers will be impressed by the high
number of direct flights to important overseas destinations
including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Toronto, Vancouver,
Dubai, Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen, Frankfurt,
Geneva, Isle of Man, Jersey, Munich, Paris, Prague and
Stockholm.
On the UK front, Glasgow Airport offers over 70 flights each
week day to all the London airports, as well as connecting with a
wide range of important regional business centres.
Road
Located conveniently just a few hundred metres from the M8
motorway, the IFSD lies at the heart of a sophisticated roads
network, linking Glasgow with all points north, south, east and
west.
To the west on the M8 lies Glasgow Airport, some 15 minutes away
and, to the east, the city of Edinburgh with its international
airport, only 45 minutes away.
From the city centre, the M80 motorway offers rapid easy access
north while the M74 is the major motorway linking Glasgow to the
south and the M77 provides easy access to Prestwick Airport, only
40 minutes away from the IFSD.
Rail
With Glasgow's Central Station only yards away and Queen Street
station a few minutes walk, the IFSD is exceptionally well served
by rail links. Between them, the two stations offer excellent
access to a huge range of destinations including London and four
trains per hour on weekdays to Edinburgh, as well as great links
north to Stirling, Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness.
What's more, these two main line stations sit at the heart of
Glasgow's suburban rail network, the largest of its type in the UK,
outside London.
Future Developments
Glasgow is determined to ensure that its transport
infrastructure retains its premier league status, well into the
21st century. In the pipeline already are several imaginative
infrastructure projects which, between them, will see well over one
billion pounds invested.
They include:
- A ten year, £290 million investment in Glasgow Airport by BAA
which predicts up to 24 million passengers by 2030. Recent
developments include a £10 million international pier extension,
and the first phase of a £31 million terminal extension.
- An extension to the M74 motorway from its current end point at
Cambuslang, along a five mile route, to link up with the M8 west of
the Kingston Bridge. This massive investment of up to £500 million
will reduce journey times by road across Glasgow and improve access
across the entire Clyde corridor. Completion is anticipated by the
end of 2011.
- A £110 million Fastlink project will use a mixture of exclusive
private way and road priority measures running along the River
Clyde Corridor, employing state of the art articulated vehicles
with the option of converting into a tram system at a later stage.
It is planned that it will link the IFSD to the SECC, Glasgow
Harbour, Pacific Quay, Braehead, Renfrew and Clydebank.
Further Information
If you have any queries or would like more information on the
range of support available to financial services companies in
Glasgow, then contact Colette McBride of Scottish Enterprise on
0141 842 3565 or at ifsd.enquiries@scotent.co.uk
THEY SAID IT …
"Glasgow is easily accessible anywhere in the UK and major
European financial centres. The airport is minutes from the city
centre and the rail system, locally and nationally is excellent.
Less commented on, but equally important, is transport within the
city itself. It is a compact and easy city centre in which to get
your bearings and the road network is first class."
Steve Kelly, Regional Manager, Allianz Insurance plc