18/03/2014
The city-region is an academic centre of excellence with over 65,000 under-graduate students, 12,000 post-graduate students, 6,000 overseas students from over 100 countries across the world, and 9000 academic staff of which over 5000 are research or academic focused. The availability of academic research and skilled graduates makes the area an extremely attractive proposition for investment and supports thriving sectors such as the Creative Industries, Life Sciences, ICT and Leisure and Tourism.
The capital has a growing reputation in the Financial and Business Services sector, which is reflected in the number of national and international companies that are now located in the city - such as Admiral, Atradius, GE, GMAC, HSBC, ING, Legal & General, Lloyds Banking Group and Zurich.
Cardiff is synonymous with sport and the Millennium Stadium, which is recognisable across the world, has been instrumental in elevating Cardiff to one of the most popular locations in the UK for major events and conferences. The SWALEC Stadium hosted the first Ashes test match in 2009, a first for Cardiff and a resounding success. In October 2010 the Celtic Manor Resort hosted The Ryder Cup, which elevated the city-region onto the world stage.
In 2012 the Millennium Stadium had the honour of hosting the very first event of the Olympic Games. The women's football match on 25 July was a celebration of sport in all its forms as the world’s media descended on Cardiff.
Cardiff is also designated as a ‘Centre of Culture’, reflected in the iconic Wales Millennium Centre. The annual Creative Cardiff showcase promotes the city’s creative economy to UK and international audiences and promotes the numerous creative festivals and events that take place in Cardiff during the year, including the biennial international Artes Mundi Prize and the World Music Expo held in October 2013.
