Mid Wales: Where Natural Beauty Meets Innovation and Investment

Investing in Mid Wales isn’t just about profit — it’s about partnership. It’s about joining a region that values progress, sustainability and community. As the world seeks reliable, ethical and green investment destinations, Mid Wales stands out as Britain’s heartland of opportunity — where innovation thrives, people prosper and the landscape inspires.

If you’re looking for an investment destination with untapped potential, exceptional quality of life and strong future growth prospects, look no further than the region of mid-Wales. Covering around 34 % of Wales’ land mass, this largely rural area offers much more than scenic landscapes—it is a thriving base for forward-thinking business activity and strategic growth.

A Region of Growth, Not Just Greenspace

The mid-Wales economy is often characterised as a beautiful, rural region with strong cultural heritage—but it is increasingly being recognised as a land of opportunity. Local business survival rates exceed those for Wales as a whole. The region also benefits from natural assets, academia and research hubs that make it an ideal base for building new industrial clusters. Its geography—bordering North and South Wales as well as the English counties of Shropshire and Herefordshire—makes it a strategic component of regional growth across Wales and the UK.

While the region faces legacy challenges in connectivity, skills infrastructure, grid capacity and business support systems, these are not barriers—they are catalysts. With fresh investment and innovation, mid-Wales is building a modern, interconnected economy ready to seize emerging opportunities.

Robust Business Foundations with Room to Grow

Mid-Wales supports approximately 12,660 VAT-registered businesses. Although more than 95 % are micro-businesses (fewer than 10 employees), the region boasts excellent five-year survival rates for new businesses—stronger than the Wales and UK averages.

Farms and agricultural enterprises account for about 37 % of all businesses here, reflecting the region’s long-standing agricultural heritage. Meanwhile, health, manufacturing, construction, accommodation & food services, and professional/technical services are also growing sectors.

For an investor, this is a region with a stable base and untapped room for growth, especially when matched to strategic infrastructure and support investment.

Sectoral Strengths: Where Mid Wales Excels

Mid-Wales is not just scenic—it has core sectors offering significant upside:

• High-Value Manufacturing: Over 8,600 people are employed in production in the region, including niche strengths in automation, motion engineering and life sciences.

• Agriculture, Food & Drink: Employing more than 13,900 people, this sector leverages the region’s terrain, weather and heritage (including Welsh lamb) and is poised for value-added processing and innovation.

• Defence & Security: With secure sites, airspace for remotely piloted aircraft systems and specialist testing zones, the region supports advanced defence & security R&D.

• Tourism: Employing more than 23,200 people, the region boasts national parks, blue-flag beaches, heritage towns and major cultural events. Growth opportunities include lengthening the tourist season, increasing visitor spend and developing branded experiences.

• Energy & Low-Carbon: The region’s natural resources, clean-energy expertise and land availability position it to lead on renewable generation, decarbonisation and green supply chains.

A Vision for 2035: Future-Focused, Investor-Ready

Mid Wales is building the foundations of a modern economy. Upgrades in digital infrastructure, from fibre broadband to 5G roll-out, are connecting even the most rural communities, while major investment in rail and road networks — including the reopening of Bow Street Station — is improving access to markets across the UK.

By 2035, mid-Wales aims to be “an enterprising and distinctive region delivering economic growth driven by innovation, skills, connectivity and more productive jobs supporting prosperous and bilingual communities.” The vision emphasises six key characteristics:

• Enterprising – A region open for business, with start-ups and growth enterprises thriving.

• Skilled – A flexible labour market and responsive training infrastructure.

• Innovative – A test-bed for new products, processes and industrial clusters.

• Connected – Fully linked digitally, physically and socially.

• Productive – High-quality jobs delivering strong regional productivity.

• Distinctive – Unique natural and cultural landscapes combined with a green-growth economy.

Why Investors Should Act Now

For domestic and international investors alike, mid-Wales offers a compelling proposition:

• The UK government and Welsh Government are actively supporting growth. For instance, the Mid Wales Growth Deal sets out ambitious targets: a total capital investment of £280-400 million and £570-700 million of net additional GVA by the early 2030s.

• Wales as a whole is delivering stronger foreign direct investment: in 2024-25 Wales secured 65 major projects, a 23 % increase and created 2,470 new jobs.

• Wales offers excellent business-support infrastructure, access to research networks, and a stable economy with strong talent pipelines.

• Massive growth opportunities in renewable energy—Wales faces a £46.8 billion investment opportunity in renewables by 2035.

Key Investment Themes to Watch

• Agri-tech & Food Innovation: The region is home to prominent food-processing clusters and research facilities, ready for value-added expansion.

• Green Energy & Low-Carbon Transition: From on- and offshore wind to hydrogen and energy-storage solutions, the region is primed for investment.

• Advanced Manufacturing & R&D: Automation, motion engineering and life sciences sectors are ready to scale.

• Tourism & Experience Economy: The natural landscape, heritage towns and cultural festivals provide a unique investment platform for high-end hospitality, event infrastructure and eco-tourism.

• Digital Infrastructure & Connectivity: While connectivity improves, there remains strong upside in fibre-roll-out, tech adoption and smart-rural business models.

Final Word: Join the Story of Mid Wales

Mid-Wales isn’t the usual “overflow” region. It’s a strategically positioned, investor-ready location offering quality of life, competitive business costs and a foundation for sustainable growth. Whether you’re looking to locate a facility, back a high-growth start-up, invest in renewable infrastructure or participate in an industrial cluster, mid-Wales welcomes you.

By investing now, you’ll be part of a growth story in a region on the cusp of transformation. Seize the moment—invest in mid-Wales and help shape Britain’s next chapter of economic opportunity.

Begin your investment journey in Mid Wales:

Growing Mid Wales growingmid.wales

Trade and Invest Wales: tradeandinvest.wales

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