With a location rating of 8.9/10, Szczecin ranked second in the BEAS survey as a place to live. The city has a rich cultural offer and a resident-friendly urban space. Sometimes referred to as a green city, it has more than 500 hectares of urban green space and is surrounded by water. As for cultural life, the city boasts three theatres, an opera house, and a new philharmonic hall, which is winning awards not only for its concerts but also for its architecture.
The next, fourth edition of the Business Environment Assessment Study (BEAS) report, authored by Antal and Cushman & Wakefield and partnered by Baker McKenzie, PAIH, Employers of Poland, Pro Progressio and Vastint, reveals the investment plans of the heads of companies operating in Polish cities for 2023-2025. Poland has long maintained and strengthened its position as a leader in attracting investments, including foreign ones.
Support of public administration at a high level
Several business environment institutions are actively operating in Szczecin, which are at the disposal of entrepreneurs. Their activities are aimed at everyone interested in business development in Szczecin. The city’s public administration support was rated very highly at 6.5/10 – the second-highest score in the report. Entrepreneurs can count on help from the Szczecin Metropolis Development Agency, the Szczecin Science and Technology Park Technopark Pomerania, the Northern Chamber of Commerce, the Regional Center for Innovation and Technology Transfer, and many others.
We have the potential to become a Polish offshore hub. This scenario is already being realized. Key elements of this process are being built. Three powerful factories for wind farm components will be built in Szczecin. In January, the Danish company Vestas announced the construction of a second production facility in our city, and the Spanish company Windar signed a final lease agreement for the land on which their plant will be built. In turn, construction of an installation terminal is underway in Swinoujscie. Szczecin has also been increasingly noticed by investors looking for new locations for office and warehouse investments for several years – comments Piotr Krzystek, Mayor of Szczecin.
The city focuses on university development
Szczecin’s educational offer is wide, with students able to choose from more than 160 majors at 16 universities, both public and private. The most popular University of Szczecin educates students in a wide range of specializations, but graduates in finance, accounting, and philology acquire the skills and knowledge most in demand on the market today.
The city is committed to the university’s development, the quality of education, and the development of opening science to business so that both sides can draw inspiration and develop branches of the economy. A great example of university-business cooperation is the event organized for the region for the third time entitled “Szczecin Business Inspirations”, in which companies, universities and associations participate. Integrating business and science strengthens relations and allows students to match with the presented organizations. All these activities positively affect the region’s investment attractiveness and build its position – adds Oliwia Płoska, Antal Senior Consultant, SSC/BPO.
Competition for employees continues
According to the BEAS report, the dominant economic sectors in the West Pomeranian region are manufacturing (constantly developing economic zones), trade (proximity to the border is of decisive importance here) and transport (an ideal base for carriers). The city’s geographical location is of considerable importance for the labour market. It undoubtedly provides great opportunities for the local community but also forces competition for the same employee between Polish and German employers.
According to the BEAS report, as many as 70 per cent of the companies surveyed plan to increase employment, indicating strong dynamics in the labour market. With relatively low unemployment in the West Pomeranian region, one of the main goals should be to encourage young people to come to study technology in Szczecin and become professionally attached to the region. Currently, Szczecin ranks as economically attractive to potential investors in terms of salaries – the average gross monthly salary in 2022 was PLN 6169.94, which was 92% of the average salary in the country – emphasizes Mateusz Otkała, Antal Business Development Manager, Engineering & Operations.
The potential of the office market
Szczecin is regarded as a gateway to the west and north of Europe, and it is because of its unique location that it is becoming an increasingly attractive city for entrepreneurs looking for new business locations. This fact is confirmed by the investment decisions of many companies that have located their headquarters here, as well as their main warehouses, taking advantage of Szczecin’s strategic location, which gives access to all modes of transportation. Naturally, this translates into the situation in the office market.
The numbers confirm the potential for further development of the office market – the total stock of office space in Szczecin is 186,000 sqm or only 3% of the entire country’s supply. Meanwhile, the annual demand for offices in 2022 was 10,700 sqm, while the space put into use at the same time was only 1,500 sqm. This clearly shows that the city needs new office projects as the number of potential tenants grows – notes Zuzanna Krech, Associate, Regional Director Central Poland, Cushman & Wakefield.
About BEAS
The “Business Environment Assessment Study” survey was conducted using the CAWI method among 1,290 decision-makers of companies in Poland from July 31 to August 25, 2023. Reports developed as part of this and previous editions of the project are available on a new, interactive portal enabling comparison of key indicators for cities and downloading selected sets of data: www.investmentpotential.pl
About ANTAL
Antal is a leading company in the CEE region, providing solutions in permanent recruitment, HR consulting, and outsourcing. The basis of our success lies in the high quality of services offered and the people, whose capital is the knowledge accumulated over 26 years of the company’s operation. We create methods and tools that exceed customer expectations and market standards, while also being a leader in sustainable transformation in the industry. The scope of our support is very wide – from implementing comprehensive permanent recruitment processes, through outsourcing services, including RPO and contracting, to Employer Branding activities, HR Consulting, as well as providing comprehensive market research and analysis services. Visit our website: www.antal.pl
About CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD
Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a leading global firm providing services to owners and tenants of commercial real estate. It employs approximately 52,000 people in around 400 offices and 60 countries worldwide. In 2022, its revenues amounted to USD 10.1 billion. The company’s key services include property, facility, and project management, brokerage services, capital markets transactions, and valuations. For its culture and actions supporting diversity, equal treatment, and inclusivity, as well as ESG and other initiatives, Cushman & Wakefield receives numerous awards and recognitions in industry and business competitions. Additional information can be found on the website: www.cushmanwakefield.com
Martyna Petrus
PR Specialist, Antal
[email protected]
