Swedish businesses have been present in the UK and contributed to the British economy and society for centuries. Today, Sweden is the UK's 7th largest investor. In 2023 alone, Swedish investments created 3,578 UK jobs. (Source: UK Department for International Trade). The Swedish business footprint in the UK has previously not been documented and communicated in a coherent way. A new study, conducted by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK, in collaboration with the Embassy of Sweden in London, and Business Sweden, examines the contribution Swedish businesses make to the regional growth of the UK. What does the regional reach look like? Where are job opportunities created, and what investments are Swedish businesses making across the UK?
We asked 87 Swedish businesses about their UK presence with regards to location of branches and sites, staffing and future investments within their operations. The participating businesses employ 78,616 people across the UK. 84% of these jobs are based outside of the Greater London region.
81% of the businesses plan to expand their teams and employ within the next 5 years, creating a total of 8,927 new jobs - an addition of 11.5% compared to current employment base. Roughly half of the new job opportunities (47%) will be created outside of London and the South East.
Visit www.swedishfootprint.co.uk for more insights into how Swedish businesses support regional growth in the UK.
