It has a diversified industrial base, a strong enterprise record and a thriving service sector. Located in the middle of Leicestershire, Leicester is a vibrant, multi-cultural city, renowned for its exceptional shopping, entertainment and leisure facilities. As Britain's first Environment City, it is also a green city, internationlly acclaimed as a leader in environment policy and practice. Leicester's traditional industries of textiles and clothing are major employers.
Engineering is also important.
Service industries are a booming sector with financial, business and health services, telecommunications and wholesale distribution showing the most expansion. Leicester also has a very high start up rate for new businesses, and over 2,000 small to medium enterprises. Shires shopping centre to specialist shops and arcades. The open air market in the city centre is the largest in Europe. The Arts are served by the Haymarket Theatre, one of the premier provincial theatres, Phoenix Arts Centre offering film, drama, dance, music and comedy and De Monfort Hall for classical music and pop concerts.