Facts and figures

• Once a city heavily dependent on the textile clothing industry Leeds has reinvented itself to become a major financial and legal centre and more recently a major centre for e-business.
• Most successful local economy in England and fastest employment growth of any major UK city.
• Leeds is the regional capital for Yorkshire and Humberside, which has a population of 5m, equal to that of Scotland or Denmark.
• Employment in financial and related business services grew to over 119,000 in 2007 from 67,500 in 1993 - a 75% increase.
• The sector accounts for 34% of the city's GDP (£14.3bn)
• It is the largest legal centre outside London and a major centre for accountancy, banking, insurance, building society finance, stockbroking, corporate and retail financial services and venture capital.
• Leeds has over 30 national and international banks, many of whose northern or regional offices are based in the city, and is also the HQ for First Direct, Britain's first telephone bank.
• It is the leading UK city for telephone-delivered banking and related financial services with over 30 call centres employing around 20,000, including First Direct, GE Capital, Direct Line, Halifax Direct, Zurich, TD Waterhouse, plus major call centres for Ventura, BT Cellnet (0_²) and British Gas.
• Leeds serves the wider economic region of Yorkshire and the Humber which is home to around 100 plcs, one of the largest concentrations in any region outside London and the Southeast. About 60 of the region's plcs are based in the Leeds city region.
• Leeds has one of the most diverse economies of any city outside London.
• It is the country's third largest manufacturing centre, employing around 47,000, and with Bradford is Britain's largest printing centre outside London.
• £3bn in commercial property investments has been completed and another £6bn is underway or in the pipeline.
• Leeds is a major centre for healthcare and has the UK's largest NHS Hospital Trust which employs 15,000 people across six hospitals and has a major R&D role.
  
• Leeds is the most popular destination for students, with the University of Leeds receiving the most applications of any UK university. In total there are over 60,000 students in the city, which boasts a world-class business school.