12 agencies across the UK
600 presentations a year
9000 discussions with contacts
60 visits by policy makers
Our agents are based across the UK
Our agents operate from 12 agencies across the UK. Up to four agents are based at each agency and they are supported by small administrative teams.
Agents have one-to-one confidential conversations with businesses and community organisations in their area. They hold local events so people can share views and experiences.
They meet hundreds of contacts, from small businesses and community organisations to large global companies. They gather insight into all sectors of the economy.
The agents find out what conditions are like for businesses and communities
Our agents make sure we have a well-rounded view of economic conditions and prospects across the UK. They help business people and our economists understand each other.
They connect our policymakers with what’s happening on the ground
Our agents organise visits for our policymakers across the UK so they can hear the views of businesses and communities first-hand.
We use this insight to inform our decisions
We use what we learn from meetings with business and community contacts to inform the decisions the Bank of England’s policy committees make. For example, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), Financial Policy Committee (FPC) and Prudential Regulation Committee (PRC).
The MPC decides what monetary policy action we take, for example the decision to raise, lower or maintain interest rates. The FPC decides what steps we take to maintain financial stability. And the PRC looks at how we regulate banks and other financial firms.
We publish our findings
We publish agents' reports four times a year in our Agents’ Summary of Business Conditions.
Each summary reflects discussions with around 1,000 businesses across the UK, covering all sectors of the economy. The reports do not represent our view, or those of any particular region or firm. They reflect UK-wide feedback from firms.
We score economic conditions
Agents produce quantitative assessments of economic conditions. These are called agents' scores and we publish them at the same time as the agents’ summary. The scores indicate how different aspects of the economy are behaving on a scale of -5 to +5.
Agents also score the performance of individual companies across a range of variables following each visit. This forms a data-set known as company visits scores and it includes published data.
For more information see definitions of the agents' scores.
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Arena Business Centre
Lancaster Court
8 Barnes Wallis Rd
Fareham
PO15 5TUEmail: centralsouthernagency@bankofengland.co.uk
Agent
Deputy Agent
The Central Southern England Agency is located in Whiteley, between Portsmouth and Southampton. The agency covers Berkshire, Surrey, Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Sussex and South-East Wiltshire.
We hold regular briefings on the Monetary Policy Report in Southampton, Reading and Farnham and on the Financial Stability Report in Southampton and Brighton. We hold regular business panel discussions in Eastbourne, Slough, Guildford, Basingstoke, Southampton, Bournemouth and Poole.
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Sir Colin Campbell Building
University of Nottingham Innovation Park
Triumph Road
Nottingham
NG7 2TUEmail: eastmidlands@bankofengland.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)115 671 1900Agent
Deputy Agent
Our agency is located in Nottingham. It covers Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland.
We hold Monetary Policy Report briefings in Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Lincoln and Northampton and Financial Stability Report briefings in Nottingham and Leicester. We also hold business panel discussions in Derby, Chesterfield, Nottingham, Leicester, Northampton, Lincoln and Spalding.
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Bank of England
Threadneedle Street
London
EC2R 8AHEmail: greaterlondonagency@bankofengland.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)20 3461 5504Agent
Deputy Agents
The Greater London Agency covers Greater London, roughly bounded by the M25.
We hold quarterly Monetary Policy Report Briefings and twice yearly Financial Stability Review Briefings in the Bank. We also hold regular panel discussion in the Greater London Area.
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The Catalyst
3 Science Square
Newcastle Helix
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 5TGEmail: northeastagency@bankofengland.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)191 823 6510Agent
Deputy Agent
Our agency is located in Newcastle upon Tyne city centre, and we engage with contacts across County Durham, Northumberland, North Cumbria, Teesside and Tyne & Wear.
We hold regular Monetary Policy Report briefings in Newcastle, Teesside and Carlisle and regular Financial Stability Report briefings in Newcastle. We also hold have regular business panel discussions in Newcastle, Durham and Teesside.
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13th Floor, City Tower
Piccadilly Plaza
Manchester
M1 4BTEmail: northwest@bankofengland.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)161 359 7438Agent
Deputy Agent
Our agency is located in Manchester City Centre. It covers Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside.
On a daily basis we are visiting business owners and third sector organisations across the region to gain an insight into current economic conditions. We also hold regular business panel discussions. We host regular Monetary Policy Report and Financial Stability Report briefings across the region. And at the request of external organisations, businesses, schools and colleges we also undertake further presentations as part of the Bank’s outreach and education programme, to help improve understanding of the Bank, our work and policy decisions.
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Scottish Provident Building,
7 Donegall Square West,
Belfast
BT1 6JHEmail: northernirelandagency@bankofengland.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)28 9091 8335Agent
Deputy Agent
Our agency is located in Belfast city centre and we cover the whole of Northern Ireland.
We hold regular briefings on the Bank’s Monetary Policy Report and Financial Stability Report across the province, as well as giving talks on the role of the Bank of England and the NI Agency to business groups, community organisations, schools and universities. Additionally, we hold regular business panel discussions.
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Onyx Glasgow
215 Bothwell Street
Glasgow
G2 7EZEmail: scotland@bankofengland.co.uk
Agent
Deputy Agents
From our base in Glasgow city centre we regularly speak with over 700 contacts across the mainland and islands of Scotland. Some discussions are through our 16 business panels that draw on a cross section of contacts from a particular location. We seek to discuss our role with those in education, the third sector and a range of business and other organisations.
We also provide quarterly economic briefings in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Perth. Separately we provide an overview of the financial sector twice a year in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
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Bank of England
Threadneedle Street
London
EC2R 8AHEmail: seea@bankofengland.co.uk
Tel: +44(0)20 3461 3954Agent
Deputy Agents
Our agency office is based in London but our agents are out in the region every day. We cover Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Norfolk and Suffolk and hold regular business panel discussions in these areas.
In addition, the agency holds regular Monetary Policy Report briefings in the Bank's buildings in London.
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St Brandon’s House
29 Great George Street
Bristol
BS1 5QTEmail: southwest@bankofengland.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)117 920 0094Agent
Deputy Agent
The South West Agency covers Gloucestershire, parts of Wiltshire, Bath & North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Bristol, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.
We visit a wide range of contacts across the region to gather information and perceptions about business, financial and economic conditions. We hold quarterly Monetary Policy Report briefings in Cheltenham, Swindon, Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth and in Cornwall, as well as Financial Stability Report presentations twice a year. We also hold regular business panel discussions throughout the South West. As part of our outreach and wider communication strategy, we give talks about the economy and economics to schools, universities, and industrial and professional bodies around the region.
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Bank of England Agency for Wales
Room 4
9th Floor
Brunel House
Fitzalan Road
Cardiff
CF24 0EBBank of England Asiantaeth i Gymru
Ystafell 4
9fed Llawr
Tŷ Brunel
Heol Fitzalan
Caerdydd
CF24 0EBEmail: wales@bankofengland.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)2920 263385Agent
Deputy Agent
The Agency is located on a business park near the M4 on the outskirts of Cardiff and covers (the whole of) Wales. We hold regular Monetary Policy Report briefings in Cardiff, Wrexham, Newtown and Swansea, and Financial Stability Report briefings in Cardiff. We also hold regular business panel discussions in Cardiff, Newport, Ewloe and Llanelli.
Mae’r Asiantaeth ar barc busnes ger yr M4 yn agos at Gaerdydd, ac yn cwmpasi Cymru gyfan. Rydym yn cynnal briffio Adroddiad Chwyddiant yng Nghaerdydd, Wrecsam, Y Drenewydd a Abertawe, a’r Adroddiad Sefydlogrwydd Ariannol yng Nghaerdydd. Rydym hefyd yn cynnal trafodaethau panel busnes rheolaidd yng Nghaerdydd, Casnewydd, Ewlo a Llanelli. -
Cornwall Buildings
45-51 Newhall Street
Birmingham
B3 3QREmail: westmidlands@bankofengland.co.uk
Agent
Deputy Agent
Our agency is located in Birmingham. It covers the West Midlands (including the West Midlands conurbation, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire & Worcestershire) and parts of Oxfordshire.
We hold regular Monetary Policy Report briefings in Birmingham, Coventry, Oxford, and Stone and regular Financial Stability Report briefings in Birmingham. We also have regular business panel discussions in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, Telford, Stoke-on-Trent, Coventry, Banbury, Worcestershire, and Stafford.
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Yorkshire House
Greek Street
Leeds
LS1 5SHEmail: yorkshireandhumber@bankofengland.co.uk
Agent
Deputy Agent
Our agency covers all of Yorkshire and the Humber region: on the coast from Whitby in the north to Cleethorpes in the south and inland as far north as Richmond, south to Sheffield and west to Skipton.
Throughout the year we hold economic and financial updates, rotating between Leeds, Bradford, York, Sheffield and Hull as well as roundtable discussions across the region.
Our agencies
Frequently asked questions
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Our agents regularly provide talks to explain the Bank of England’s view on the economy and to talk about business conditions. Fill out our online form to request a talk.
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You can find out more about our latest and upcoming local briefing events by contacting the Agency nearest you. Our events privacy notice explains what we do with any information you give us. You can download an English version and a Welsh version.
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Yes, we have classroom teaching resources for schools and colleges. You can also ask us to arrange a speaker from Bank of England to visit your school. Find out more about our education resources.
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We work with non-profit organisations to hold regular meetings with people in all parts of the UK in our Town Hall events. If your community organisation is interested in helping us please email outreach@bankofengland.co.uk.
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We make sure your personal information is protected. You can download an English version and a Welsh version of our privacy notice.
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Unfortunately we can can’t exchange notes at our agency offices. But you can exchange them by post. See Exchanging old banknotes.
Agents' Summary of Business Conditions
This page was last updated 08 April 2024