Business in Ashfield

Why Ashfield

Businesses come to Ashfield because we have access to a skilled workforce of 78,000 people and a further 1 million plus people within an hour’s drive (NOMIS data, 2021).

Skilled graduates

There is also a cluster of higher education institutions with 7 universities nearby producing world-leading research and 39,020 skilled graduates each year (HESA data, 2019 to 2020). In addition to the skilled graduates the area produces, Ashfield has a fast-growing young population with 5365 aged between 16 to 25 (NOMIS data, 2019).

Strategic transport links

Large companies are attracted to Ashfield because of the close location to strategic transport links combined with a competitive labour market. Businesses in Ashfield are situated at the heart of the motorway, with easy access to and from the M1, A1(M), and A38. With 87% of the UK population reachable within 4 hours' drive time; that’s millions of customers, suppliers, and connections right on your doorstep.

Future investment plans

The centrepiece of future investment plans is a new Automated Distribution and Manufacturing Centre, which will become a national centre of excellence. It will focus on promoting and providing access to the latest technologies and best practice in automated distribution and help businesses to become more competitive on the global stage.

£100 million plus will be invested over the next 5 years on projects in Ashfield such as:

  • New Automated Distribution and Manufacturing Centre
  • New Robotics Centre
  • New Construction and Civil Engineering Education Centre
  • New Library Innovation Centres
  • New Science Discovery Centre and Planetarium
  • New water sports leisure facility
  • New transport infrastructures
  • New health and sports hubs
  • Multiple town centre transformation projects – including in Kirkby in Ashfield and Sutton in Ashfield.

We will also be developing a new Innovation and Technology Business Park, where the centrepiece will be the state-of-the-art Automated Distribution and Manufacturing Centre. If you would like to know more or wish to discuss your relocation needs, then please contact our business support team.

Other sources of information

Ashfield Economic profile

Surveys, market research and statistics

Use these resources to inform your business decisions:

Nottinghamshire Observatory provides socio-economic statistics about Nottinghamshire

Business and Intellectual Property centres

Nottingham City Library has free business service and business and intellectual property centre. They have a wealth of resources for aspiring entrepreneurs and existing employers including market research, company databases, advice on patents, designs and trademarks.

Ashfields Economic Profile

Working age population

  • aged 16 to 64 - 77,900
  • source data NOMIS updated 2021

Average weekly wages

  • £678 per week
  • source data NOMIS 2024

Unemployment

  • 3170 people.
  • This equates to 4.1 percent of the working age population.
  • source data NOMIS March 2025

Job density

  • 0.79
  • This means there are 0.79 jobs per member of Ashfields working-age population
  • source data VARBES

Average housing prices

  • £203,229
  • source data VARBES updated March 2023

Number of businesses

  • 3095 businesses
  • 20 are large businesses

Number of retail shops

  • 700
  • an approximate figure, as this changes periodically

Skills most in demand

  • warehousing
  • continuous process improvements
  • auditing
  • nursing

GDP

  • £3.4 billion
  • Ashfield contributes 0.2 percent of the UK economy - source data VARBES updated 2021

Number of business parks

  • 13
  • An Innovation and Technology Business Park is also planned for development in Ashfield and will offer new build opportunities
  • Further information can be found on the Commercial and business premises web page
  • link: Commercial and business premises

Ashfield's main industries

  • Human Health and social work activities - 26.8 percent
  • Wholesale and retail - 14.3 percent
  • Manufacturing - 16.1 percent
  • Construction - 6.2 percent
  • Transport and storage - 10.7 percent
  • Education - 7.1 percent

Business premises

Locating or relocating in Ashfield?

To find business premises in the district:

Email our commercial property team, providing your contact details and your property requirements (type of property, size required, proposed use, budget, preferred location).

Find a private sector commercial property

Search for empty properties by business rate rateable value

We don't give information about availability or ownership of these properties. For ownership enquiries contact H.M. Land Registry

Register with local property agents

Case Studies

Find inspiration in Ashfield Welcome to our Case Studies section. Here you will find some business case studies that include examples of how we have helped in the growth and prosperity of companies within Ashfield.

Ocean of Fun Ltd - Generating new revenues

Funding from Ashfield District Council Economic Development Service has allowed Hucknall based, Oceans of Fun Ltd, to expand their service offerings generating new monthly revenues which has also led to creating more local jobs.

Sherwood Observatory – New ecommerce website

Sherwood Observatory recently opened their new planetarium and science discovery centre.

Funding support from Ashfield District Council Economic Development Service was used to develop an ecommerce website with full booking system which they would use to sell merchandise.

In the first 2 months since opening, they saw members of the public, groups, schools, and corporate organisation using the new website to make bookings. 

They successfully sold over 7500 general admission tickets through the new website by the end of January 2025 and took 230 enquiries from groups, school visits through to web based enquiry forms.

CPI Systems Ltd – Energy improvements

Funding and support from Ashfield District Council Economic Development Service has helped a local Sutton in Ashfield engineering business to make energy saving measures by installing solar panels and single glazing window replacements, in addition to increasing productivity and efficiencies with the purchase of new thermal printer.

Tea Powered Projects – Supported business growth

Funding and support from Ashfield District Council Economic Development Service has enabled Tea Powered Projects to move from a home office to a fully functioning office location in Linby, complete with a fully secure networking setup, cyber security equipment, an upgraded server and equipment for staff.

Contact details

Page last updated 08 September 2025

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