Manchester lies at the geographical heart of Britain, and is the fastest growing UK city outside London, with a GVA (Gross Value Added) of £ 51bn annually, Greater Manchester accounts for 40% of GVA generated in the North West. • It is a springboard to the rest of Britain, with excellent rail and road links. • The city enjoys a great international profile. 108 million Chinese people (8% of the population) support Manchester United. It also attracts around 5,000 Chinese students each year. • Europe's largest university campus with 30,000 students graduating every year from three world-class institutions. • Over 7.2 million people (8% of the UK population) live in Manchester and the North West, accounting for 11% of UK GDP. • It is already home to over 2,000 foreign enterprises, plus big UK names like the BBC at MediaCityUK – the largest purpose-built media location in Europe. • Over 20 million consumers are within a 2-hour drive – and more than 60% of the UK's businesses. • It is a centre of technological innovation and advanced manufacturing. • It's home to Manchester Airport, which connects 20 million passengers direct to 200 global destinations every year.