Buckinghamshire is rated as one of the top ten places to do business in the UK and offers an excellent environment in which businesses flourish. The county has a strong enterprise culture, with a higher than national average start up rate for new businesses, especially SMEs (Small & Medium-sized Enterprises of 0-250 employees) and those in knowledge and technology-based industries. With such a strong economic base, Buckinghamshire offers an excellent standard of living. Wage levels are high and compare very favourably to national and European averages, and its status as a prime business location has seen many international firms locate here. Silverstone, Pinewood & Shepperton Studios, and GE Healthcare, are all based in the county. With Buckinghamshire identified as one of the top four areas for growth in the UK, the county looks set to build on its economic excellence.