County Durham offers many of the ingredients for an enjoyable lifestyle - our unspoilt countryside, a range of cultural activities, attractive housing and a choice of good schools and universities. In fact, County Durham can offer the best modern lifestyles without the stresses of modern life.

It is a preferred location for investment by companies from all over the world, including the Far East, Scandinavia, mainland Europe and the United States. The area has one of the highest productivity levels in Britain and exports a greater percentage of its output than any other UK region.

We are now home to over 120 overseas companies from 21 different countries, and all have found that County Durham is the ideal place to invest, work and succeed.

A County of over 2230 square kilometres (861 square miles), we are equidistant in driving time from London and Aberdeen. The Pennine Hills, the backbone of England, form our western boundary while, to the east, lie the North Sea and the ports of Europe.

It's our countryside that surprises most first-time visitors. The western half of the County, with its high fells, moorland and wooded valleys, is nationally recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. From here, it is only an hour's drive to the cliffs and beaches of the east coast.

We believe County Durham offers many advantages to any company thinking of bringing their business to our region. From our rich and colourful heritage reaching back nearly two millennia to our exciting business environment, County Durham has always fostered success.