If you are looking for jobs in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire,Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk then you could find yourself working in the East of England.

It's official - graduates from the East of England are more enterprising than anywhere else in the country. So it's no wonder that businesses across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk are keen to snap up local graduates, and ensure new entrepreneurial flair benefits their enterprises.

What does the East of England economy have to offer new graduates?

Here are five things you might not know about this diverse region that will open your eyes to the opportunities for you here: 

1. Research and development that is second to none:

This region invests more in research and development (R&D) than any other UK region. From Ford's advanced engineering facility at Dunton in Essex, to Microsoft's European headquarters in Cambridge and BT's Adastral Park communications centre in Suffolk, this region is streets ahead of others for commercially-led R&D.

2. The biggest biotechnology cluster outside the USA:

If you are looking for a career in biotechnology, look no further than the East of England which is home to the biggest cluster of biotechnology businesses outside the USA. And from the region with more products in clinical trials than any other in Europe, it is no surprise that the East of England has a long history of pioneering medicine - from the first test tube baby to the first combined organ transplants.

3. A region of firsts:

Whatever grade you graduate with, you can be assured that you'll be at the forefront of something. After all, this is a region of firsts: from Crick & Watson unlocking the secret of DNA, to the birthplace of the jet airliner and the UK's first radio factory at Marconi in Chelmsford.

4. A great place to live, work and play:

The East of England is home to the UK's largest natural forest park (Thetford), one of the most internationally renowned wetland areas in the world (the Norfolk Broads) and has nearly 300 miles of coastline. It also boasts the UK's lowest crime levels and highest life expectancies. According to polsters at MORI, almost 90 per cent of residents say they enjoy living here.

5. Development - but at a sustainable pace:

As the fastest growing UK region, there are huge opportunities for new business. The region is grasping the growth challenge - but in a sustainable way. For example, we have the UK's premier biofuels facility. We have clusters of renewables businesses in Peterborough and Great Yarmouth. And we have world-leading climate change research at Cambridge and Norwich together with Watford's Building Research Establishment which is pioneering new construction technology for sustainable developments.

There can be no doubt that the East of England is well-placed to provide newly qualified graduates with a wealth of opportunities. Almost 2,000 overseas businesses have made it their home. And the region has a rich stock of small and medium sized businesses that are rapidly learning that they need young, fresh talent to take them forward.

So whether you're a graduate in philosophy from Cambridge, in climate science from UEA or visual arts from the University of Hertfordshire, there are a huge range of opportunities for you here. And whether you see your first steps in business as part of a large multi-national; as central to a small entrepreneurial business; or if you have passions to set up on your own in business, you'll find the support you need here in the East of England.

The Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) Network is available to help anyone over the age of twenty who is seeking advice or information about learning and work. The service is free. The East of England branches of the IAG Network have their own websites:

• Bedfordshire
• Cambridgeshire
• Essex
• Hertfordshire
• Norfolk
• Suffolk

The East of England Observatory website is provided by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) to be the gateway to research and data about the region. The EEDA website gives a regional overview of skills and employment links as well as business support links. Click here to see the facts that cement our position as the UK’s ideas region.

Download facts and figures about the East of England and its labour market (84kb, PDF format).

Examples of graduate employers in Bedfordshire:

Atlas Converting Equipment Ltd.
Attentiv Systems Ltd.
B E Aerospace Holdings (U K) Ltd.
Bedford High School
Bedfordshire County Council
Box Clever Technology Ltd.
Charles Wells
Connells Ltd.
Cranfield University
David Lloyd and Sportsworld.
Kier Group Plc
Meller Beauty Ltd.
Moto Hospitality Ltd.
MSAS-Exel
Nissan Technical Centre Europe Ltd.
S C A Hygiene Products (U K) Ltd.
Sca Hygiene
Scapa U K Ltd.
Smiths Metal Centres Ltd.
South Bedfordshire District Council
Sportsworld and Capio Healthcare.
The Kier Group
W Jordan (Cereals) Ltd.
Willmott Dixon Housing Ltd.
Zwetsloots Ltd.

Examples of graduate employers in Cambridgeshire:

Addenbrookes NHS Trust
Anglia Ruskin University
ARM Ltd.
Barclays Bank plc
Bottisham Village College
Brama Brown & Root
British Sugar Plc
BT PLC
Buralls
Cambridge City Council
Cambridge Regional College
Cambridge University Press
Dako Cytomation Ltd
Dalehead Foods Ltd
Dalehead Foods Ltd.
David S Smith Corrugated
Domino UK Ltd
East Cambridgeshire District Council
EMAP
Fairline Boats Plc.
Fenmarc Produce Ltd. and Astron-on-Line Ltd.
G.W. Padley
GS Shropshire and Sons
Hereward Housing Associations Ltd
Hinchingbrooke Healthcare NHS Trust
Huntingdonshire District Council
Huntingdonshire Regional College
Lifespan Healthcare Trust
Linx Printing Technologies plc.
Marshall Aerospace Ltd.
Mayer Parry Recycling Ltd
McCains Food
Merloni Elettrodomestici UK Ltd.
MOD Bassingbourn Barracks
MOD Waterbeach Barracks
Mondi Packaging
Myers Comfortable Beds
Napp Laboratories Ltd
Nestle Purina
Nokia UK Ltd
PA Consulting Group
Papworth Hospital NHS Trust
Pearl Assurance
Perkins Engines Co. Ltd.
Peterborough Hospitals Trust.
Premier International Foods
RMC Readymix Eastern
Sealed Air Ltd
Shearline Precision Engineering Ltd. Del Monte
Stainless Metalcraft
Taylor Barnard and Hanson Bricks. Clarksteele Limited
The Medical Research Council Centre
The Sanger Centre.
Thomas Cook Group (HQ)
University of Cambridge

Examples of graduate employers in Essex:

A6 Airlines
Abbey National and Konica UK.
Albon Engineering and Manufacturing PLC
Alenia Marconi Systems
Anglia Ruskin University
Appleyard Motor Co. Ltd
Arriva Southend Ltd
Arrow Electronics UK Ltd
BAE Avionics
BAE Systems
Betts Group Holdings Ltd
Bolgar Ltd.
British Telecom
Britvic Soft Drinks Ltd
Camshron Ltd and Titon Hardware Ltd.
Care Solutions Ltd
Care UK
Castle Point Borough Council
Chelmsford Borough Council
Clifford Thames Group Ltd
Community Health Services Ltd
Connectix and Insure and Go Insurance Services Ltd
Converso.
Cox Insurance Holdings
Crittall
E2V Technologies
East Essex Adult Community College
Eastern Counties Laundries Ltd.
Epping Forest District Council
Epping Forest Primary Trust and Higgins Group.
Essex Fixing & Abrasive Supplies
First Data International
First Essex Buses Ltd
FLS Aerospace
Ford Motor Company (British HQ)
Gilbarco
GlaxoSmithKline
Harlow District Council
Harwich International Port.
Haven Services Ltd
HM Customs and Excise
Hobson & Sons
ICS Triplex
Ipeco Holdings Ltd
Jardine Motors Group Ltd
John Alexander Estate Agents and aSap A Care Agency.
KeyMed Ltd
LINPAC Automotive Ltd
London Southend Airport.
M&G Group
Maldon District Council
Marsh UK
Mellon Trust and Countryside Properties.
MSX
NICO Manufacturing
Nortel Networks
Peacocks Cleaning
Pearson Education Ltd
Pitney Bowes
Princess Alexandra Hospital
Raytheon Systems Ltd and Tesco Distribution Ltd.
Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance Group
Royal Bank of Scotland
Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Ltd
Royal Mail and Writtle College.
Sainsbury's
SATO UK Ltd.
Seetec
Seevic College
Servisair (UK) Ltd
Southend Hospital NHS Trust
Southend Unitary Authority
Stansted Airport Ltd
Tamdown Ltd
Thames Card Technology Ltd
The Book Service Ltd.
TMX Corporation Ltd
Uttlesford District Council.
Visteon
Woolwich Open Plan
York International

Examples of graduate employers in Hertfordshire:

Advanced Visual Technology Ltd
Alphametrics Financial Systems Ltd
Ambrit Ltd
ARX Ltd
Barker & Associates Chartered Surveyors
Bishop Stortford YMCA
BRE
CMC Consulting Ltd
Coopers of Stortford
Cranfield University
Criterion Recruitment
Dart Resourcing
DE Photography
Debra Robson Lawrence Ltd
Decision TreeConsulting LTd
Deloitte
dotmatics Limited
Drive Software Solutions
Drive Software Solutions Ltd
DSG International
EADS Astrium Ltd
Eltek Energy
Euronet Essentis Ltd
European Technology for Business Limited
Executive Grapevine International Ltd.
F10 Ltd
Farista Limited
Flowline
GE Life
Heales Medical Ltd
Hertfordshire Co Council
Herts Young Homeless Group
Honeytop Speciality Foods
IMS Research
Interbar Limited
JacobsParrott
Jantec
Johnson Matthey
Juice Technology (Flexpower Lighting Systems Ltd)
Kingfisher Environmental Services Ltd
KSBR Brand Futures
Learn-it
Lorensbergs Ltd
MBDA UK Ltd
Modern Networks
MotivAction
NCMA
Netcel Ltd
Ocado
OnTrack International
P&Q International
PC World Business
Pinnacle Consulting Engineers Limited
Ramasis Ltd
Renewable Energy Systems Ltd (RES)
Salmon Limited
Sealed Air
Sodexho Prestige
Steria Ltd
Stevenage Borough Council
Switchshop Limited
Tesco Stores Ltd
TNL Communications Limited
University of Hertfordshire
Veolia Water Partnership
Vertex Solutions Ltd.
Virtual Regulatory Services Limited
Welwyn Hatfield Council
Wenta Business Services
WSI Ltd

Examples of graduate employers in Norfolk:

Affinity Recruitment Solutions
Band & Brown Communications
Barric Limited
Baxter Healthcare Ltd
Bernard Matthews
Bertrams Books
Biffa Waste Services
Breckland Council
British Trust for Ornithology
CITB-ConstructionSkills
Creative Arts East
Dot Mobile Limited
Dr&HERBS
e2search.com
Endsleigh Insurance Limited
Equipmake Ltd
Floranova Limited
Geologix Limited
Global Travel Lounge Ltd
Grampian Convenience Foods
Guy-Raymond Eng. Co.Ltd
Happy Media PR & Marketing
ImPress Courses
Learning Resources Ltd
Marsh Ltd
Newsmakers
Norfolk Country Cottages
Norwich School of Art and Design
OGCbuying.solutions
Online Media Group
Pinesolutions
PKF (UK) LLP
Plandescil Ltd
Positive Publications
Powertrain Technologies Ltd
Pricewaterhousecoopers
Redco Ltd
Return To Fitness Ltd
RGIS Inventory Specialists Ltd
Samphire
Samphire Management Limited
Sarah Roberts Architects
Schofield Publishing
Select Appointments
Stuart Well Services Ltd

Examples of graduate employers in Suffolk:

A Recipe for Success Ltd
Anglia Ruskin
Applied Design and Engineering
Atco Qualcast Ltd (Bosch Group)
CallScripter
Castle Manor Business and Enterprise College
Cheeze Limited
Clarke & Simpson
Clays Ltd
Essential Care
Graham Festenstein Lighting Design
GRI Ltd
Hayward Medical Communications
Herbert Retail Limited
Itineris Limited
KDM International PLC
mtmconsulting limited
National Horseracing Museum
Onezerosix Limited
Pilot Drilling Control Ltd
PKF (UK) LLP
Pure Resourcing Solutions
R G Carter Projects Ltd
Rade New Media Ltd
Sat-Comm Ltd
SEN Legal
Serengeti Systems Ltd
Shelton Internet Ltd
Strata Systems
Thales Land & Joint Systems
Thales Optronic Systems
Underwoods Engineered Products Limited
Willis Limited
Witton Chemical Co Ltd