International Financial Services District facts for kids

Quick facts for kids International Financial Services District
Sgìre Seirbheisean Ionmhais Eadar-nàiseanta  (Scottish Gaelic)
Current logo of the IFSD
Part of the IFSD, with the Tradeston Bridge in the foreground, May 2016
General information
Status	Complete
Type	Financial, Government agency, National government, insurance, corporation headquarters
Location	Broomielaw, Glasgow, Scotland
Coordinates	55°51′24″N 4°15′45″W / 55.85677°N 4.26241°W / 55.85677; -4.26241
Current tenants	See Buildings & Notable Residents
Construction started	2001
Opened	2003
Cost	£1 billion
Owner	Scottish Enterprise, Glasgow City Council
Management	Scottish Government, Scottish Development International, Skills Development Scotland, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce
Grounds	3 million sq ft (across multiple buildings)

The International Financial Services District (IFSD) is a special area in Glasgow, Scotland. It's like a big business hub where many important financial companies have their offices. People sometimes call it "Wall Street on the Clyde" because it's so important for money and business.

The IFSD is one of the top 40 international financial districts in the world. It is even ahead of cities like Brussels and Dublin. This area was created to bring big international financial companies to Glasgow. It also helps local companies grow. Today, the IFSD is a major part of Glasgow's international business scene. It also helps the Scottish economy a lot. Big companies like Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, and Barclays have offices here. Since 2001, over 3 million square feet of office space has been built in the district.

History of the IFSD

The area where the IFSD is now used to be an old harbour. Many buildings were empty. Planning began in the late 1980s to make this area busy again. Organizations like Scottish Enterprise and Glasgow City Council worked together. They wanted to create a place for many new jobs. This was very important for Glasgow's economy.

The IFSD officially opened in 2001. It started as about one square kilometre between St Vincent Street and the River Clyde. This project helped to bring new life to the Broomielaw area. It also helped the west side of the city centre. Because it was so successful, the IFSD grew bigger. It expanded north, east, and west to make space for more offices. This growth made Glasgow a well-known place for financial services.

How the IFSD Helps the Economy

Glasgow is known as a great shopping city in the UK, outside of London. The IFSD helps Glasgow's economy even more. It is a major place for jobs in the financial sector. About 30,000 people in Glasgow work in finance.

Since it started in 2001, the IFSD has become a big part of the Economy of Scotland. New buildings like 1 Atlantic Square and Buchanan Wharf have been finished. Many large international companies have offices here. These include Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays Bank, BNP Paribas, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, HSBC, and Royal Bank of Scotland. Other important companies like the Student Loans Company and Tesco Bank are also located in the IFSD.

What is the IFSD Area?

The BT building in the IFSD

There isn't an exact border for the IFSD. When it first started, it was about one square kilometre. This area was bordered by the M8 motorway to the west. The River Clyde was to the south. Hope Street was to the east, and Bothwell Street was to the north. It also included parts of Blythswood Hill and Anderston.

Because of its size, people sometimes called it the Square Kilometre. But the most popular nickname is Wall Street On Clyde. The district has also grown across the River Clyde. New buildings like the Buchanan Wharf complex in Tradeston are now part of it.

Getting Around the IFSD

The IFSD (right) with the Tradeston Bridge crossing the River Clyde

It's easy to get to and from the IFSD using different types of transport.

Train Stations

The IFSD is connected by five train stations. These stations have routes that go all over Scotland and beyond.

• Anderston station
• Charing Cross station
• Glasgow Central station
• Glasgow Queen Street station
• Exhibition Centre station

Subway Stations

The IFSD also has two Glasgow Subway stations nearby. The Glasgow Subway is one of the oldest underground railways in the world.

• Buchanan Street Subway
• St Enoch Subway

Road Connections

The IFSD is close to the M8 Motorway. This motorway runs through Central Glasgow. It connects Glasgow to other major cities like Edinburgh and Paisley. It also links to Glasgow Airport.

Walking and Cycling

The Tradeston Bridge was finished in 2009. This bridge makes it easy to walk or cycle across the Clyde. It connects the IFSD with the Tradeston area. Before this bridge, people had to walk much further to cross the river.

Buildings and Companies in the IFSD

Offices of Morgan Stanley at the corner of Douglas Street, part of the IFSD

Scottish Government offices at 5 Atlantic Quay

Many important companies have offices in the International Financial Services District. Some of these include Direct Line Group, Barclays, BNP Paribas, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, and Aon. The Scottish Government and the Department for Work and Pensions also have offices here.

Completed Buildings

Here are some of the buildings in the IFSD and the companies that work there:

Buildings Under Construction

One building is still being built in the IFSD: