Businesses in the UK are looking to expand internationally in the next five years, with a recent YouGov survey commissioned by NRW.Global Business revealing that more than half of decision-makers have plans to do so. Among the top destinations for expansion is Germany, with 72 percent of respondents considering the country and 84 percent specifically interested in the Rheinisches Revier region.
The survey, which was conducted in Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the UK, found that 22 percent of UK decision-makers plan to expand abroad in the short term, with an additional 27 percent planning to do so within the next two to five years. Younger decision-makers, in particular, are enthusiastic about expanding, with 70 percent of those aged 34 and below seriously considering expansion in the next five years or already in the process of doing so.
Germany is highly regarded by UK decision-makers, with 72 percent rating it as an attractive location, with 31 percent finding it “very attractive” and 41 percent finding it “rather attractive”. The survey revealed that key factors for this positive view of Germany include its geographical location, well-developed infrastructure, availability of skilled workers, strong research partners, and digital environment.
One region in particular that stands out for UK decision-makers is the Rheinisches Revier, which is currently undergoing a transformation from Europe’s largest open-cast lignite mine to a climate-neutral industrial region. The survey found that 84 percent of respondents find the region attractive, with 94 percent of those aged 18 to 34 expressing enthusiasm for the industrial hub in western Germany.
Jochen Pollotzek, General Manager of Rheinisches Revier at NRW.Global Business, attributes this high level of approval to the region meeting important site requirements for businesses, such as its geographical location, availability of skilled workers, well-developed infrastructure, and strong research partners. Pollotzek also mentions the region’s proximity to economic metropolises, such as Cologne and Düsseldorf, and Europe’s most important seaports. He also highlights the availability of commercial space and attractive funding instruments, as well as the region’s focus on digital transformation with a network of leading research institutions.
Moreover, the survey revealed that the technological priorities of UK decision-makers, such as artificial intelligence and IoT, align with the future fields of Rheinisches Revier. Pollotzek explains that the region offers an environment that specifically supports these technologies, with plans for Microsoft’s hyperscale data centers to be located there.
Sustainability also plays a crucial role in the investment decision for UK decision-makers, with 23 percent citing it as an important factor. The transformation of Rheinisches Revier into a climate-neutral industrial location is likely to be well received by these decision-makers.
The survey was conducted online with members of the YouGov panel who had agreed to participate in advance. A total of 554 company decision-makers in the UK were surveyed from May 12th to 18th, 2025, and the results are not necessarily representative.
Rheinisches Revier, located in the west of North Rhine-Westphalia, is Europe’s largest lignite mining region and a center of energy-intensive industry in Germany. With a transformation budget of 14.8 billion euros and favorable starting conditions, the region is now being developed into Europe’s first climate-neutral industrial location. NRW.Global Business, North Rhine-Westphalia’s state-owned trade agency, is working to attract international companies to participate in this project and capitalize on the momentum for change.
For more information, please contact:
Phuong Anh Kitty Krause
Project Manager Marketing Rheinisches Revier
+49 211 13000-501
krause@nrwglobalbusiness.com
Press release distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/
