Gatwick Diamond
The Gatwick Diamond accounts for 350,000 jobs and a GDP of £10 billion with excellent air, rail and road links giving easy access to global markets.
The Gatwick Diamond is a major international centre for business, home to international companies as well as fast growing, entrepreneurial businesses. The area's key business sectors are:
- Advanced manufacturing and Engineering
- Aviation
- Financial and Professional services
- Pharmaceuticals
- Retail
- Hotel and Leisure
Advanced Engineering; includes Invensys Process Systems, Thales and Varian.
Aviation; London Gatwick Airport – the UK’s second busiest airport is a significant player, fundamental to the economic and social life of the South East and the nation. It is the 11th most significant European Airport region and plays a key role in enhancing the country’s engagement in the global economy. It is serviced by 100 airlines including; British Airways, Easyjet, Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd.
Associated companies include; LSG Sky Chef, Gate Gourmet Ltd, Inflight Cleaning Services, Airline Travel Promotions Ltd and Virgin Holidays Ltd.
Financial and Professional Services; Besides being the UK headquarters for Exxon Mobil and Unilever, this enterprising Diamond also hosts major international businesses like KPMG, Deloittes, RoyalSunAlliance, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Friends Provident, Grant Thornton, Thomas Eggar, ASB Law and Shadbolt.
Pharmaceuticals, Food & Medical Products; GlaxoSmithKline, Kimberley Clark, Novartis, Toshiba Medical, Pasta Reale and United Foods.
Hotel and Leisure; includes Gatwick Airport Hilton Hotel, Le Meridien Gatwick Airport Hotel, The Arora Gatwick Airport Hotel, Ramada Plaza Hotel, Nutfield Priory Hotel, Alexander House Hotel, Ockenden Manor Hotel and South Lodge Hotel.
The Gatwick Diamond enjoys a pivotal position on the national transport network. Gatwick Airport is the UK's second largest airport with frequent connections to central London through the Gatwick Express rail service and onwards to Europe via EuroStar services. The M23 connects the Diamond to the M25 London Orbital motorway. The new Fastway guided bus service provides a 21st Century public transport system and is expanding across the Diamond area.
The Diamond is served by three universities, all with strong links to business; University of Sussex (Brighton), University of Surrey (Guildford) and Brighton University. There are also four FE Colleges; East Surrey College (Redhill), Reigate College, Central Sussex College (Crawley and Haywards Heath campuses), and Richard Collyer College (Horsham).
The Diamond area includes many different towns, villages and rural areas, each with their own distinctive character and appeal as places to live and do business. There are a number of areas of outstanding natural beauty such as the North Downs, Sussex Weald and South Downs.
