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Why invest in the UK?

  • Home to the world's largest financial hub- London
  • A business-friendly environment with no bureaucratic obstructions
  • Well-developed consumer market of 60 million people
  • Ample product innovators, suppliers, and partners
  • Favorable language and legal system for a business start-up or expansion
  • A £100 billion infrastructure spending commitment
  • New centers for innovation and investment are coming up
  • Aiming to be a zero carbon economy even with world-class technology
  • Tax relaxation for many domestic and international companies
  • Advanced transport system supported by the world's largest offshore wind farm

The United Kingdom is one of the most generative places to invest money. With a mature, liberal, open economy and a world-class regulatory environment, the UK promises investors maximum Return on Investment (ROI). The UK government is working toward establishing freeports and investment hubs, further boosting the country's investment market.

UK Sectors

The UK is home to world-class technology and revolutionary research, which is trying to become a net zero carbon economy. Investors and traders in the UK get to participate in the UK's green revolution and contribute more to the world. Some of the most productive sectors are detailed below:

Aerospace and jet zero

  • It is the largest industry in Europe in terms of its turnover. 
  • Trying to meet the government’s net zero commitments.
  • The success of this transition depends on implementing the Prime Minister's ten-point plan.
  • The jet zero strategy targets net zero carbon emissions by airlines by the end of 2050.

Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality

  • It is one of the rapidly growing markets in Europe.
  • By the end of 2030, growth in this sector may reach £ 62.5 billion
  • Offers massive opportunity for investors worldwide.

Biopharmaceuticals

  • Benefited by a long-term government partnership and its visionary appeal.
  • Has evolved as a core biopharma industry with £36.7 billion in annual turnover and a service and supply chain industry worth another £18.4 billion in 2019.
  • The government aims to capitalize on the existing advantages to transform the country into a medical innovation haven.

Usage and storage of carbon capture

  • Carbon capture, usage, and storage (CCUS) are essential to meet net zero emissions by 2050.
  • The UK Continental Shelf can store approximately 78 billion tonnes of CO2.
  • The government and industry can work together to ensure that the CCUS sector remains investible and productive.
  • An increasing number of CCUS projects offer above-average returns for investors.

Chemicals

  • The chemical sector is crucial in making the UK a decarbonized economy. 
  • Nation’s largest manufacturing exporter
  • Welcoming investors to invest in freeports like Teesside Freeport, Humber Freeport, and Tees Valley biomanufacturing.
  • Outstanding opportunities for investors financing low carbon solutions, deriving and processing hydrogen, battery technologies, renewable feedstocks, and circular economy.

Civil Nuclear

  • Around 18.3% of the UK's electricity is generated from nuclear power plants, per the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) data in August 2021.
  • Demand for low-carbon electricity will lead to a doubling of the UK's electricity system by the end of 2050.
  • Investment opportunities are most fruitful in companies focused on producing fusion energies in Oxfordshire.
  • Significant investment opportunities across the UK's nuclear new-build programs, waste management and decommissioning programs, advanced nuclear technologies, and nuclear fusion
  • Other investment opportunities include funding District Heating Networks, heat supply programs for domestic and industrial uses, and synthetic fuel productions.

Cleaner and greener agri-tech

  • Professional farmers are eager to adopt new technological measures to become more efficient.
  • Immediate investment opportunities are available in Felixstowe and Harwich (Freeport East), innovative nutrition companies in Norfolk and Suffolk, and Telford and Wrekin farming systems looking to adopt sustainability.
  • Agri-tech investment opportunities focus on progressive farming, developing a dynamic business environment, and evolving a world-class science and technology.

Creative Industries

  • Contributes £13.2 million to the nation’s economy on an hourly basis.
  • The growth rate is predicted to surpass the national average by a factor of five.
  • Immediate investment opportunities are noticed in Liverpool City Region Freeport, Solent Freeport, and Immersive gamification and visualization Enterprise M3 in Surrey.
  • Massive investment opportunities include fields like Video game production, advertising and marketing, and television and film production.

Cyber Security

  • A global leader in the cyber security sector.
  • Expected to reach £21.37 billion by 2028, registering an annual growth rate of  10.42%
  • Investment opportunities with immediate effect are seen in Cyber Security in Gloucestershire and Connective and Immersive Technologies for Future Mobility in Warwickshire and Coventry.
  • Top investment opportunities include export markets, talents and skills, and supporting new companies.

Ed-Tech

  • Attracts more than 41% of overseas investment in Europe.
  • £92 million was invested in emerging ed-tech companies across the nation.
  • It offers significant investment opportunities in artificial intelligence, online open courses, cloud-based learning management systems (LMS), and cybersecurity.

Financial Services

  • World leader in green finance.
  • Contributes around £173.6 billion annually, leading to 8% of the country’s GDP.
  • Top industries to invest in the UK financial services include Islamic Finance, Fintech, Capital Markets, Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG), and Green Finance.

Food and drink

  • The country's most significant manufacturing sector in terms of turnover.
  • Contributes around £105 billion annually and employs over 430,000 people.
  • Prompt investment opportunities wait in freeports in Thames and East Midlands and companies looking for sustainable p0acking in Manchester.
  • Key investment opportunities lie in industries dealing with plant-based and alternative protein sources, functional food, and sustainable and intelligent packaging.

Green Shipping

  • One of the world’s leading maritime nations, the country is looking forward to enabling environment-friendly shipping solutions.
  • Contributes up to £13.8 billion and 260,000 jobs to the UK economy annually.
  • Areas that offer prime investment opportunities include decarbonizing shipping and regulation, digitalizing ports and shipping, marine autonomy, maritime regulation and insurance, and shipbuilding, refit, and repair opportunities.

MedTech

  • Home to one of the largest medical technology industries in the world.
  • Expected to grow by 5.45% by the end of 2028, resulting in a market volume of £22.84 billion
  • Immediate investment opportunities include MedTech health in Wales, Precision biomarkers and diagnostics in Northern Ireland, and Cell and gene therapy in Hertfordshire.
  • Some critical sectors for investment in the UK MedTech industry are those dealing with Genomics, medical devices, Diagnostic imaging, and Digital Health Technologies.

Offshore Wind

  • World's second-largest offshore wind market.
  • Requires a £100 billion private investment to achieve the net zero goal.
  • Investment opportunities are supreme in Teesside Freeport, Freeport East (Felixstowe and Harwich), and Humber Freeport.

Real Estate

  • Foundation block of UK’s economy.
  • It contributes around £1.7 billion annually to the UK's GDP.
  • Funding and equity options are open in Queen’s Parade in Bangor, Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, and ID Manchester.

Sports Economy

  • It is home to many sporting champions and is supported by the government.
  • Expected to generate revenue of £90.46 million by 2027.
  • Immediate investment opportunities are available in Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park and Brent Cross Town.
  • Both investment and business opportunities are welcome in areas like performance tracking, media consumption and distribution, immersive technologies, gaming and e-sports, management, organization and sustainability, blockchain, cryptocurrency, and 5G expansions.

Zero Emission Vehicles

  • Aiming to be the fastest G7 nation to decarbonize vehicles by 2035.
  • Spent more than £2 billion in the transition to electric vehicles.
  • Immediate investment opportunities include accelerated electrification transition in the North East of England, Connected and immersive technologies for Future Mobility in Warwickshire and Coventry, and Thames Freeport.
  • Industries that offer promising investment opportunities include the ones dealing with battery technologies, power electronics, machines and drives, magnets, hydrogen, lightweight materials, and charging infrastructure.

UK Nations and Regions

With a robust and business-friendly environment, the UK invites investors worldwide to invest their treasures and expect maximum ROI. However, not all countries have the same consumer market for every type of industry. Therefore, it is essential to know about the UK's economic power and the countries that invite business and investment in different sectors.

Country Favorable Sector
Wales
  • Technology
  • Life science
  • MedTech
  • Digital sector
South Of England
  • Nuclear and aerospace
  • Life-science
  • Cyber security
  • Artificial Intelligence
Northern Ireland
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Cyber-security
  • AR/VR and photonics
  • Aerospace
  • Financial services
North Of England
  • Creativity and design
  • Clean-tech
  • Digital
  • Manufacturing
  • Financial services
Midlands
  • Sports Economy
  • Zero emission vehicles
  • AR/VR and artificial intelligence
  • Green Shipping
Scotland
  • Food and drink
  • AR/VR
  • Digital technology
  • Agri-tech
  • MedTech

 

UK Investor Visa

Investing in the world's leading investment hubs requires an investor visa to support, live, work, study, initiate or engage in business, or even apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). The UK has many investor visas to offer depending on the amount you are willing to invest and your preferences.

Types of UK Investor Visa

Start-up Visa

  • Allows new entrepreneurs to start a business without a capital investment.
  • Grants a leave for two years
  • Requires a letter of endorsement from an approved endorsing body.
  • Allows you to work simultaneously in some other company and your start-up.
  • Permits you to bring your dependent family.
  • After completing two years, you can change your visa status to Innovator Visa.

Innovator Visa

  • Allows experienced entrepreneurs to invest a minimum of £50,000.
  • Encourages the development of and investments in scalable businesses to drive economic growth.
  • Allows members of an innovator team to invest and apply for this visa.
  • Initially granted for three years and eligible for multiple extensions later.
  • Allows you to bring your dependent family to the UK.

Tier 1 investor Visa

  • Allows high net-worth entrepreneurs to invest a minimum of £2,000,000. 
  • Initially granted for three years and four months.
  • A considerable amount can be made into loans or share capital in companies actively trading in the UK.
  • Makes you eligible for Permanent Residency (PR) in 2 to five years.
  • It allows you to relocate with your family and access benefits like a high standard of living, security, and education.

Cost and processing time of the UK Investor Visas

Type of visa Cost per person Processing Time
Applying while
in the UK
Applying from
abroad
Applying while
in the UK
Applying from
abroad
Start-up visa £508 £378 3 weeks 8 weeks
Innovator Visa £1292 £1036 3 weeks 8 weeks
Tier 1 Investor Visa £1228 £982 8 weeks 8 weeks

 

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