Worcester is a city in the county of Worcestershire, which is situated in the West Midlands. The city of Worcester is about 30 miles southwest of Birmingham and 29 miles north of Gloucester. Worcester has a population of around 94,000 people.
Worcester was once a centre for the manufacture of gloves in the UK; and at its peak employing over 30,000 people in the city. Glove making was at its height in Worcester towards the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
In 1751 Dr John Wall founded the Royal Worcester Porcelain Company. Although the company no longer manufactures goods, the site is now the home of the Worcester Porcelain Museum. Worcester has also been the home of Lea and Perrins Worcestershire sauce since 1897. The sauce is made and bottled at the Midland Road factory in Worcester.
As well as a long heritage in manufacturing, Worcester has many employment opportunities in manufacturing today. The city of Worcester is also a centre of retail for the surrounding areas and the city has three main covered shopping centres within the city centre. Worcester also provides employment opportunities in a range of other areas including the service, administration and education industries to name a few.
Worcester has its own university, the University of Worcester, which was awarded university status in 2005. It is one of the fastest growing universities in the UK. The university has plans to open the first university and public library, bringing first class resources to students and the local area. Graduate employment is also a key priority for Worcester's university.