Solihull outperforms region and UK, new economic snapshot reveals
Solihull businesses are performing well compared to their counterparts in large areas of the West Midlands and the wider UK – with strong employment levels and “highly-skilled” workforces.
The upbeat assessment of the borough’s achievements over the last 12 months is revealed in Solihull Chamber of Commerce’s latest Solihull Economic Snapshot report, which shows Solihull’s employment rate of 77 per cent is above both the West Midlands and UK averages while unemployment remains low at 3.2 per cent.
The report also reveals that the borough has one of the most skilled workforces in the West Midlands, with 43.1 per cent of residents holding a Level 4+ qualification, a considerably stronger profile than the wider region.
Only 5.85 per cent of Solihull residents have no formal qualifications compared to 7.3 per cent nationally while the borough’s business base continues to grow with more than 8,300 firms operating – the vast majority of them SMEs – while over 1,000 new businesses were created in 2023.
Meanwhile, in 2023, median gross weekly pay for Solihull workers stood at £697, higher than the West Midlands (£620) and UK (£643) averages.
The borough’s gross disposable household income reached £26,815 in 2023, significantly above both the West Midlands average (£21,141) and the UK average (£21,679).
On house prices, by December 2025 the borough’s average value was £332,744, markedly above the West Midlands average (£246,141) and the corresponding UK figure (£270,259).
In the introduction to the report, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Policy and Research Analyst Paige Bowyer said: “Over the past year Solihull has continued to show resilience, with strong employment levels, a highly skilled workforce and a business base that performs well compared with both the wider region and the UK.
“Start-up activity has increased, high growth firms remain a notable feature of the local economy and Solihull continues to attract investment across advanced manufacturing, digital services and emerging technology sectors.”
Kevin Johns, director of Prime Accountants in Solihull, added: “This latest report reinforces Solihull’s position as a leading borough within the West Midlands, particularly in areas such as education, average earnings and housing. Looking ahead, major developments including HS2, the UK Central Hub and the Mell Square transformation reflect strong business confidence and long-term strategic ambition for the borough.”
Tony Elvin, general manager of the Touchwood shopping centre, said the complex had enjoyed a busy year for lettings – with over 80,000 sq ft of leasing activity completed.
He said: “Strong demand was seen from both new and existing brands, with notable deals including Apple opening a new store alongside new arrivals such as Space NK, Sweaty Betty and Lisa Angel.
“The pipeline remains positive, with Boots Hearing Care, Moss Bros and Hypnotic Desserts all set to open in the coming weeks, alongside further deals that are not yet ready for disclosure.”
Lewis Payne, development director at IM Properties, warned that Solihull had become “a victim of its own success.”
“A high level of demand for new homes and business space is being strangled by a lack of supply. This problem is largely down to the West Midlands Green Belt, which tightly wraps the borough, but it has been exacerbated by a policy void, with a lack of regional guidance and Solihull failing to put an adequate Local Plan in place to allocate new employment sites.”
The report said major developments such as HS2, Arden Cross and the transformation of Solihull town centre would all play important roles in shaping the borough’s future economy.
