Katowice

Katowice has excellent transport links, with the A1 and A4 motorways intersecting nearby, providing easy access to all parts of Europe. The main cities of the metropolitan area are connected through the centre of Katowice by the Drogowa Trasa Średnicowa (Intercity Road), and the dense network of railway lines makes it possible to comfortably reach Prague, Vienna, Budapest or Berlin within a few hours. Katowice International Airport is one of the largest and most dynamically growing airports in the country and is expected to handle 2,400,497 passengers in 2022. There are also two other international airports within a radius of 100 kilometres – in Kraków and Ostrava in the Czech Republic.

It is worth noting that, according to the latest TomTom Traffic Index report, the capital of the Silesian region is the least congested city in Poland among the 12 largest conurbations included in the study.

Tomasz Dyba

Senior Negotiator, Cushman & Wakefield

Expert commentary

The City of Katowice is closely linked to the functioning of the Upper Silesia-Zagłębie Metropolitan Area (GZM), which is a unique example of inter-municipal cooperation on a regional scale. The GZM brings together 41 municipalities to form a common metropolitan area. Because of its competencies, the GZM plays a key role in the development of regional infrastructure. It makes joint investments in transport infrastructure, such as the expansion of the road network or the modernisation of public transport. These activities help to improve the mobility of residents, reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.

Katowice’s infrastructure is an example of dynamic development and adaptation to modern needs. The city is a prime example of an incredible metamorphosis.
Over the past few decades, Katowice has been transformed from a mining centre into a modern business and cultural centre. One of the key elements of this transformation is the Strefa Kultury, which is probably the most visited place by visitors. The International Congress Centre, the National Radio Symphony Orchestra and the ever-expanding Silesian Museum are the main attractions of the area.

Tomasz Dyba

Senior Negotiator, Cushman & Wakefield

Expert commentary

The office market in Katowice is one of the most dynamically developing in Poland. The city has become an important business centre in the southern part of the country, attracting investors from various sectors of the economy. One of the key development factors is the region’s large population.

The vacancy rate is currently high at 20.1 per cent. The high level of competition is prompting developers and property owners to step up their efforts to increase the attractiveness of their facilities. As a result, tenants can count on good lease terms, flexible negotiation options and access to a variety of amenities. Companies can therefore choose from a variety of locations and standards and tailor the offer to suit their needs.

Despite the high vacancy rate, the Katowice market remains active. Currently, 78,000 sqm of office space is under construction (the third highest in the country after Warsaw and Kraków). This shows that investors still see potential in the region and believe in its long-term development.

The rise of the hybrid working model has also changed some companies’ approach to office space – this may mean less space for employees, but a greater need for flexible meeting and collaboration spaces.

Katowice is a thriving business centre and a friendly place to invest and live. Capgemini, PwC, IBM, Unilever, Fujitsu, Rockwell Automation, Accenture – these are just some of the global brands that create jobs here.

Potential investors and employers in the region value the support they receive from the public administration. Cooperation often begins as early as the process of selecting a location for a new company headquarters. Polish and foreign entrepreneurs count on assistance in obtaining information about the local market in many respects. And often, the level of support received influences the final decision on the location of an investment.

The activities of the Katowice Special Economic Zone, which has issued 78 decisions on support for new investment projects, are highly visible in the city. Thanks to these investments, 1,150 new jobs will be created and more than PLN 2.3 billion will be invested. Some of the investors in Katowice are: ABUS Crane Systems Poland, Acustica Industiale Poland, Adient Foam Poland, Cornaglia Poland, Electrolux Poland.

A major advantage of Katowice and the entire region is the availability of human resources with a wide range of educational backgrounds and different levels of experience. There are 14 universities in the city with approximately 50,000 students. Each year, Katowice’s universities produce about 13,000 graduates who enter the labour market. Graduates are fluent in foreign languages and have modern degrees. They are excellent candidates for employees of companies that have decided to establish their branches or headquarters here.

The most popular subjects among students are business and engineering. When it comes to learning foreign languages, the most popular subjects are English, German, Spanish and Russian. The extensive IT facilities and the well-developed research and development sector are worth mentioning.

Karolina Bucka

Team Leader, IT Services Antal

Expert commentary

Katowice is a city that has grown strongly in many areas in recent years. It is an ideal example of the transformation of an industrial region into a centre for business services and high technology. Undoubtedly, one of the main factors influencing this transformation has been the development of the education sector. Katowice is now a recognised and important educational centre in Poland. The city is home to 14 universities and colleges offering a wide range of courses, with areas such as languages, finance and IT leading the way in terms of student choice, and has seen business and employment growth in recent years. Katowice’s position as an educational centre on the map of Poland is undoubtedly strengthened not only by the wide range of educational opportunities, but also by the high quality of education and real employment opportunities in the region. Undoubtedly, another advantage of Katowice is the fact that it is very well connected, not only locally within the agglomeration or the neighbouring provinces, but also with the whole of Poland, which attracts students from all over the country, as well as from abroad, expanding the professional potential of the region.

The best proof of the city’s commitment to science is the fact that Anchorage has been awarded the title of European Science City 2024. It is worth noting that it is the first Polish city to receive this distinction, joining the ranks of Stockholm, Barcelona, Dublin, Copenhagen and Manchester.

Good public transport in Katowice, three international airports within a 100km radius and cooperation with local universities make it possible to reach a large talent pool. The regional labour market has changed dynamically in recent years. The BPO/SSC and IT services sectors are developing rapidly.
The Silesian market is largely based on new technologies. The employment potential in manufacturing and engineering companies is strengthened by the Silesian University of Technology, which is one of the largest technical universities in the country and produces highly qualified engineers who are highly valued on the labour market. It is the most active university in terms of cooperation with business and industry. This enables students to complete internships or paid work placements and gives employers access to graduates.

Agnieszka Grzegorczyk

Team Leader, Antal Engineering & Operations, Antal

Expert commentary

Foreign investment is undoubtedly one of the factors contributing to the increase in employment potential in Katowice. The city attracts new companies, which leads to the creation of new jobs in the manufacturing and service sectors. The agglomeration’s large population and high educational potential make it possible to meet companies’ recruitment needs.

Currently, the main challenges for the future development of the labour market in Katowice are the industrial transformation and the education of the workforce. Katowice is facing the transformation of traditional industries into more modern and sustainable ones. At the same time, the increase in employment potential requires appropriate education and training of the workforce to meet new market demands. Katowice has a strong industrial tradition, so the manufacturing sector continues to grow and is an important source of employment. The growing demand for consultancy, IT and financial services is contributing to the development of the business services sector. Also the technology and IT sector, where growth is attracting companies in this sector, creating jobs for programmers, engineers and IT specialists. On the other hand, cooperation with universities supports the development of the research and development sector and the growing pool of talent in this field.

As a major economic centre in Poland, Katowice has the potential to further develop its labour market, the key being to address the challenges and capitalise on its unique strengths.

Katowice is a city that has been growing dynamically and innovatively for years, gaining national and international recognition and prestige. Here are some of the awards and distinctions that Katowice received in 2022 and 2023:

• First place in the ranking of the most business-friendly cities by the prestigious Forbes magazine. The ranking assessed, among other things, the quality of infrastructure, access to skilled labour, level of innovation and cooperation with the business community.
• The “Investor Friendly City” award. This is one of the twelve categories of the Prime Property Prize awarded during the Property Forum. Katowice was recognised for creating favourable conditions for the development of the commercial property sector.
• Katowice was recognised for its sustainable development and awarded a silver prize at the International Awards for Liveable Communities LivCom Awards 2023 in the category of cities with a daily population of over 400,000 (this figure includes permanent residents and people who are in the city during the day).

Katowice – the capital of Upper Silesia – is an agglomeration that has shown how it is possible to appear on the map of BSS locations in a short period of time, to strengthen its position and to be permanently included in the search criteria of domestic and foreign investors. The entire Katowice agglomeration is a unique urban ecosystem in Poland, offering unique logistical and communication opportunities.The city is easily accessible by air and land, thanks to the Katowice-Pyrzowice airport and the junction of the A1 and A4 motorways. The logistical advantages have been recognised by office developers, whose modern office buildings contribute to the city’s architecture almost every year. Companies such as Skanska, TDJ, Echo Investment and Ghelamco have built their modern office buildings here.Katowice belongs to the group of so-called Tier 2 cities, which for the BSS sector means high growth potential with stable costs and balanced market saturation by BPO/GBC/IT projects. In the first two decades of the 21st century, Katowice has significantly increased its investment potential, and there is every reason to believe that this trend will continue.

Marcin Nowak

Managing Director, AMMEGA Business Services

Expert commentary

In 2021, AMMEGA Group has chosen Katowice as the location for its Global Business Services Centre, one of the key growth initiatives of the AMMEGA Group. It is an innovative organisation committed to its mission and vision to be the local partner of choice for belts and conveyors, manufactured and delivered in a sustainable environment, for a wide range of economic sectors.

AMMEGA has decided to build a comprehensive support centre that handles end-to-end processes for key business areas such as finance, IT, digital, HR, communications, marketing, legal, sustainability, forecasting and production data evaluation, creating several global functions and teams that directly manage processes in Europe, but also globally. The consistent implementation of ambitious development plans focuses on working with the best professionals and teams, combined with building a brand that is recognisable and attractive to employees. We are successfully implementing the process of strengthening and harmonising support for AMMEGA’s strategic areas to deliver efficient, integrated, world-class processes. The choice of an office location in the centre of a vibrant metropolis has also undoubtedly supported the achievement of business objectives. The development plans of AMMEGA’s Global Business Service Centre, after two years of presence in Katowice, include further strengthening its strong market position and long-term prospects.

Michał Mateja

Managing Director, Vaillant Business Services Poland

Expert commentary

When we were looking for a suitable location for our IT & Data site, we wanted a thriving environment, so we focused on Katowice, a city that is friendly to both investors and employees.

The dynamic development of Vaillant Group Business Services Poland meant that only a few months after starting our operations in the city, we decided to open a research and development site in Katowice, which is a key element of Vaillant’s development strategy. Our R&D experts will help us implement innovative projects even more effectively and strengthen our market leadership.

We are convinced that investing in our team and expanding into the Katowice market will be profitable for both our company and the local community. We look forward to continuing to work with professionals from the region. Our team currently consists of 100 specialists, and we plan to add another 130 IT professionals so that together we can build the future of the digital world and care for our environment.

Katowice is a city with a large amount of green space, which covers more than half of its area. In 2022, Katowice’s green areas will receive an important investment – a new boat station on Morawa Lake, which will provide recreational and educational opportunities for residents. Silesia Park, located on the border between Chorzów and Katowice, is one of the largest parks of its kind in Europe, almost twice the size of New York’s Central Park.

The city has a rich musical and cultural tradition. Katowice hosts many interesting music events, including the Rawa Blues Festival, the JazzArt Festival and the Off Festival. In 2015, Katowice became the second city in Europe to be awarded the title of City of Music by UNESCO.

The Katowicka Strefa Kultury (Katowice Cultural Zone) is an undoubtedly unique place, appreciated by residents and visitors alike. The revitalised post-mining area has been transformed into an arena for cultural encounters. It includes the new home of the Silesian Museum, the SPODEK sports and entertainment hall, the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR) building and the International Congress Centre (ICC). Katowice’s potential in the field of culture, both infrastructural, institutional and human, as well as its rich and varied cultural offer, is noticeable on a European scale.

Katowice in numbers

• 2,665 thousand – the number of tourists who will visit the Silesian Province in 2022.
• 314 – the number of hotels in the Silesian Province.
• 42% – the percentage of the area of Katowice covered by forests, including the remnants of the ancient Silesian Forest with two nature reserves: Ochojec and Murckowski Forest.
• 282,500 people visited Katowice’s museums in 2022.
• Since 2015, Katowice has been part of the UNESCO Network of Creative Cities as a UNESCO City of Music – more than 20 concert halls, 30 music clubs and more than 15 record labels and recording studios operate here.