Nantes Saint-Nazaire, the "business friendly" option

In 2014, more than 100 companies - new arrivals and start-ups - located to the Nantes Saint-Nazaire area. 

Once again, the appeal of Nantes Saint-Nazaire as a base for businesses has been clearly demonstrated. In 2014, a further 91 companies from outside the area opted to locate to the Pays-de-la-Loire regional centre, representing the creation of more than 1000 new jobs within the next 3 years, according to projections drawn up by the Nantes Saint-Nazaire Development Agency. In fact, year on year, the number of businesses coming into the area has remained steady against the backdrop of a stable economic climate. 

Parisian companies lead the way

"The appeal of Nantes to Parisian company directors and their employees is greater than ever before", underlines the economic development agency. And the figures back this up, since 40% of business creations or transfers originate in the Greater Paris area. Santéclair, the health insurance specialist, chose Nantes for its new headquarters. The company will ultimately employ 250 people at its new site. Other recent arrivals from Paris include, in the maritime sector, V.Ships France, the world's leading ship management company, and in the creative sector, Blackmeal, the motion design specialists. Both symbolise sectors of excellence for which Nantes is renowned. 

Sectors of excellence: Nantes: a thriving marine renewable energy centre 

Nantes is increasingly being singled out for its sectors of excellence and drawing in some major industrial projects from outside France. In 2014, Mojo Maritime, the British offshore project management specialists operating in the marine renewable energy sector, opened its first overseas office in Nantes. "We chose the city as a base for its ease of access, the presence of numerous private and public marine renewable energy specialists and for its quality of life", emphasises the company's CEO. Also in 2014, in the field of advanced manufacturing technologies, American group Hexcel, the global leader in the manufacture of composite materials for the aerospace and wind energy sector, stepped up its development with Airbus.

Increase in the number of start-ups in Nantes

On the innovation side, start-up companies are flourishing in Nantes, nurtured by the Atlanpole incubator. Some 17 start-ups were created in 2014, above the average target of between 12 and 15 usually set by innovation experts in Nantes. "In 2014, Atlanpole achieved a higher figure due, in particular, to the 5 companies that emerged from the different "Factory" initiatives, the innovative start-up competitions set up by the incubator. 

In 2014, Atlanpole provided its innovative project engineering services to support 93 companies and industrial projects in some of the region's key sectors: digital, health, advanced production technologies, the environment (a high-growth area). As a direct result, more than 100 new highly-qualified jobs were created in the metropolitan area. "Every year, the equivalent of one SME employing 150 people and generating a turnover of €15 million emerges from Atlanpole", underlines CEO Jean-François Balducchi. 

In response to this growing appeal, the creation of the Nantes Saint-Nazaire Development Agency on 1 January 2015 is set to give fresh impetus to the arrival of new businesses in the area.

> Download the details of new businesses arriving in Nantes in 2014  nsd_dp_bilan_activite_2014.pdf (1.04 Mo)