The city of Nottingham has a population of around 290,000 and is situated in the county of Nottinghamshire which is in the East Midlands region of England. Access to and from Nottingham in all directions is made easy by the close proximity of the M1, A1, A52 and A46 motorways.

Nottingham is home to a diverse selection of large national and international companies. Major employers in the area include Alliance Boots (Boots the Chemists), E.ON (UK), Gala Group, Siemens, Capital One, Experian (credit reference agency) and Vision Express. HM Revenue and Customs and the Driving Standards Agency also have headquarters in the city. An industrial powerhouse in the area is BioCity which is an incubation centre for bioscience development that currently supports more than thirty companies.

The University of Nottingham is also an important resource for local businesses. The University's incubation facilities and innovation, development and consultancy services aid regional business and stimulate the wider economy. The University of Nottingham Innovation Park (UNIP) was opened in 2008 on a 12 acre site in order to provide such business with research and development services.

Retail shopping is a key commercial sector in Nottingham and the two primary shopping centres, Victoria Centre and Westfield Broadmarsh, comprise of major retailers such as Debenhams and Marks and Spencer.

Nottingham also offers a thriving cultural and entertainment scene, headed by the Nottingham Playhouse, Theatre Royal, Nottingham Royal Concert Hall, Broadway Cinema, Screen Room, Sumac Centre and Old Market Square. Other important buildings include Nottingham Castle, which is an obvious favourite amongst Robin Hood fans and the impressive Neo-Baroque Nottingham Council House.