Nottingham is often first associated as the hometown of Robin Hood. To everyone the legend of Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest is well known from childhood. However, Germans often don’t know much more about Nottingham – something that needs to be change!
With the aim to change this and to spread the potential of Nottingham as an economic base internationally, especially to the German market, the German Interest Group (GIG) was brought to life. As part of Nottingham City Council’s International Strategy, the GIG is a union of entrepreneurs and representatives from Nottingham, keen to build relationships with Germany.
I myself first got involved with the GIG during my internship in Nottingham. After I finished my Bachelor of Law studies I decided (before I go back to university to keep on studying for my Master’s degree) to collect some practical experience in International Tax. I got this chance with a long-term internship at Türner & Co in Nottingham. Türner & Co is a firm of chartered accountants and tax advisors specialising in services to the UK subsidiaries and operations of overseas multinational groups. Due to the fact that the founder and owner of the company, Christine Turner has German roots, the majority of clients are German.
Christine took me to one of the regular meetings of the GIG for the first time a few weeks ago. Right at the beginning I was surprised, with how much vigour and enthusiasm the GIG have in their aim to make Nottingham a popular economic location for German enterprises and investors. A group of people who really want to make something happen, and are seriously interested in understanding the German market.
They are not only focusing on the business side. They also want to ensure that companies who have settled here feel good in Nottingham with a long-term view to the future. For that reason they also integrate the aspect of ‘living in Nottingham’, to ensure that the people behind the businesses (managers, employees and their families) feel at home here.
Some big German business (e.g. E.ON) have already expanded to Nottingham. Furthermore some of the main benefits of Nottingham are that it is located in the heart of the United Kingdom with easy access to any part of the country, it also boasts an international airport.
Nottingham is already known as an ambitious economic location in the sectors of Life Sciences, Digital Media and Clean Tech and is intent on spreading this reputation. Nottingham is not only an ambitious economic location it is also a great place to live.
With my arrival in Nottingham I was surprised at how ‘green’ Nottingham is, with a nice city climate. Furthermore, Nottingham is a ‘young’ city – this is probably due to the two world renowned universities. The people of Nottingham are beyond friendly, often you don’t even have to ask for help, because this is offered on its own.
All in all, Nottingham is more than just the hometown of Robin Hood. With the ambitions of the GIG, Nottingham may also be the hometown of many German-British success stories.