The city of Stoke-on-Trent is situated in Staffordshire which is in central England. It is approximately 170 miles from London. Some other major cities that are nearby include Derby, Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Manchester. The nearest airport to Stoke on Trent is in Manchester which is around 25 miles away and there are plenty of regular rail services from Stoke to London. You can be there in considerably less than two hours if travelling by rail whereas an average drive will take a little more than three hours. The city is located near to the M6, giving easy access to other major towns and cities.
Stoke on Trent was famous for its pottery industry from the 1700’s when small factories started to appear. As time went by, a number of well established and well known companies were set up. These include household names such as Wedgewood, Spode and later on Doulton. As with most towns and cities, the introduction of the railways helped with trade enormously as it was considerably more efficient than using the canal. Mining was also a prominent part of the economy and was a major employer but now the mines are just a distant memory.
Fast forward to modern times and Stoke on Trent is still acclaimed for ceramics which it is still producing and selling all over the world.
The city has a very strong manufacturing presence and many large and successful global companies are based here. Other sectors include engineering, logistics and distribution, energy, creative and digital, professional services, life sciences, health and social care and education and agritech.
A report published earlier in the year, highlights that job vacancies in the area remain high in many sectors and there are emerging opportunities for more job creation. Stoke on Trent has support via many initiatives and economy focused schemes with an emphasis on building on Stoke’s own strengths. The city is also set on improvement and transformation through several regeneration projects which are proving to be highly successful.
Stoke on Trent is recognised for its many green spaces and the nearby River Trent has an abundance of wildlife.
Staffordshire University has its main campus here and is a well established and popular university which offers high class facilities and opportunities to students from around the world.
Affectionately shortened to ‘Stoke’ or called ‘the Potteries’, this unique and friendly city offers much to do in the form of entertainment and leisure activities. The World of Wedgewood is an exciting family day out but there are several other equally interesting locations if you wish to appreciate the pottery and ceramics. Trentham Monkey Forest is a marvellous woodland setting where monkeys roam free and there are several tranquil parks and gardens to explore such as Trentham Gardens and Longton Park.
The city is brimming with many tempting places to eat and drink. Make sure you sample a deliciously unique oatcake which is a savoury cake considered a speciality to the area. Visit at least one of the shopping centres where you can find all the big names in retail as well as markets and quirky independent shops.
Surveys show that the residents of Stoke live closer to green spaces than any other city in Britain - the city certainly offers plenty of parks, wooded areas, canal walks and wonderful nearby rural scenery.
Looking for a Career in Stoke-on-Trent? We are hosting a careers fair at Stoke Town Hall on Wednesday 2nd August, between the times of 10am-2pm. Ours event are completely free for jobseekers and are a great way to meet hiring companies around the city. Find out more here!