Norwich has a diverse and thriving knowledge economy, with a mix of large global brands and small and medium sized enterprises. It is a major centre for financial services, health and life sciences and creative/media industries. Other important business sectors include professional services, retailing, construction, specialised engineering, manufacturing and tourism. This broad business base has helped Norwich maintain a robust and sustainable economy.

Over 50 companies have based their national or regional business headquarters in Norwich, which is home to household names such as Aviva (formerly Norwich Union), Virgin, Unilever, Kettle Foods, KLM, Lotus, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Marsh.

The global economy is moving towards an increase in knowledge-intensive industries and Norwich is well placed to accommodate this shift because it already has a strong knowledge economy and skills base. Sectors predicted to grow in the Norwich area within the next decade include health and life sciences, creative industries, professional and financial services, retailing, hotels and catering, and computing.