Glasgow

Its position on the River Clyde made Glasgow a magnet for shipping and trade, with its economy being deeply reliant on heavy industry. However, with the post-war industrial decline, Glasgow has reinvented itself with a diverse economy of services, finance and innovation.

A new generation of service sector employment in tourism, finance, and business services—especially in innovation and creative industries—has developed over the past twenty years. Higher education, in the form of the city’s four universities industries is also making a key contribution to the changing face of the local economy.

Housing one of Europe’s largest civic art collections, the city has a fantastic mix of world-class museums, galleries and award-winning visitor attractions including Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and the Riverside Museum, with these and many others free to visit. Glasgow, the dear green place, is also home more than 70 parks and gardens spread across the city.

The city is in the top 5 most sustainable conference cities in the world and is an experienced host of major international sporting events. Notable for its night-time economy, Glasgow is one of UNESCO’s Cities of Music.

In May 2019, Glasgow declared a climate emergency and has set an ambitious target of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030. In June 2021 the city adopted its Climate Plan, a response to Glasgow’s Climate and Ecological Emergency Working groups made over 85 recommendations between them on how the city can become climate ready, achieve net zero and reverse biodiversity decline. The Climate plan provides a pathway to a climate ready and net zero city through innovations in energy use, transport, planning, waste management, food, biodiversity enhancement, nature-based solutions and finance.

Glasgow is also a member of the ROOF URBACT Network and one of 12 ‘Vanguard’ cities around the world aiming to end street homelessness by 2030.