Sheffield

Sheffield is located fairly centrally in Britain in the metropolitan county of South Yorkshire. The Sheffield City Region includes Rotherham, Barnsley and to the south and west, the county of Derbyshire. It is one of the greenest cities in Europe, one third of the city lies within the beautiful countryside of the Peak District National Park. It has excellent transport links to all major cities and airports. Manchester International Airport is the nearest international airport, it is an hour away and there are frequent direct trains to there from Sheffield city centre. Sheffield has extensive railway links to all major UK cities and London is just over two half hours away.

Trains leave to London from Sheffield every hour. There has also been significant investment in next generation broadband access in the city. Often referred to as "Britain's biggest village", Sheffield is in fact, the UK's fifth largest city, boasting a population of around 560,000 people. Renowned throughout the world as the home of stainless steel, the "Made in Sheffield" mark represents the finest quality products available. In the 18th century, it became the centre of heavy industry following the industrial revolution and this heritage remains today, with large and small steel works dotted throughout the city, which continue to roll, hammer or cast metals for a vast range of products.

Variable weather can be expected throughout the year in the Sheffield area and around South Yorkshire, although broadly speaking there are rarely any extremes. Winters are fairly cold and frosty, springtime is sunny and warm at times, and on occasion, the summer climate in Sheffield can be extremely hot.Temperatures of more than 37°C / 99°F have been recorded during the sunniest weather in July and August, although these highs are by no means the norm. Summer averages of around 22°C / 72°F are more usual, feeling considerably warmer and more humid on still days.

Sheffield has a thriving cultural and creative industries sector, accounting for 7.2% of Sheffield’s working population – almost double the national average.The music industry is particularly well represented and Sheffield has been the home of several well known bands and musicians. There are two major theatres in Sheffield, the Lyceum and the Crucible, two art galleries and several museums. There are also 20 nightclubs and 45 cinema screens. Major art galleries in Sheffield include the modern Millennium Galleries and the Site Gallery, which specializes in multimedia. The city also has several museums, including the Sheffield City Museum, the Kelham Island Museum. Meadowhall Shopping Center in Sheffield is one of Europe's largest shopping centers with over 270 stores.Sheffield is the first National City of Sport, with a range of high quality facilities originally built for the World Student Games in the city in 1991. These include the Don Valley Stadium, The Sheffield Hallam Arena and the Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, with its Olympic-sized pool and diving pool.

Since 2000, Sheffield’s economy has been growing at a faster rate than the United Kingdom’s.With an economy now worth over £7 billion a year, and economic growth exceeding the national average, Sheffield’s economy is in robust shape. With key sectors in financial services, medical technology, metals processing & technology and digital & creative industries the evolving economy continues to bolster the city’s international reputation.Reputable companies with strategic operations in the city include: Abbey, Nationwide Building Society, DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary, HSBC, Irwin Mitchell, Kingfield Heath, Nabarro Nathanson and Aviva.Major manufacturers with facilities here include: Outokumpu, Corus, Allvac, Sheffield Forgemasters, Sheffield Insulations Group, B.Braun, Cadbury Trebor Bassett, Swann-Morton, Ronseal, and Symmetry Medical. There are several worships in Sheffield for different relighions (churches, mosques and more).