IGCSE Geography / Economic activity and energy

Where tertiary and quaternary activity locates

Edexcel International GCSE Geography (4GE1), chapter 4: Economic activity and energy, specification point 4.1b. Free lesson.

Read the revision notes · IGCSE Geography past papers

Tertiary services locate where customers can reach them, while quaternary firms seek skilled workers, good connections and fast broadband. The internet has changed where both types of activity can operate, but location still matters.

Where tertiary services locate

Tertiary activity means providing a service, so its location depends on where its customers are and how easily they can reach it. Easy to reach means accessible. Different services choose different places because they have different customers. City centres are the most accessible because roads, buses and trains meet there. Department stores, banks and offices locate there. Near homes suits services people use every day, such as corner shops, primary schools and doctors. Out-of-town retail parks have cheaper land, space for huge stores and free parking. Bluewater in Kent…

What attracts quaternary firms

Quaternary activity is knowledge work, such as research and software. It moves information rather than goods, so it does not need to be near heavy raw materials. Its most important need is skilled people, alongside good connections and facilities. Firms locate near universities to hire graduates and work with researchers. Good transport helps staff and visitors reach the site. A site on the edge of a city can offer room to build and pleasant surroundings, which help attract skilled staff. Clustering means firms of the same kind grouping together. They can share ideas, staff and…

Cambridge Science Park

Cambridge Science Park shows how these factors work together. A science park is a site built for research and high-tech firms. It was founded in 1970 by Trinity College, University of Cambridge, and was the UK's first science park. Its location near the university provides graduates and researchers. It is beside the A14 main road, with a railway station close by. On the northern edge of the city, former farmland gave room to build and pleasant surroundings. Over 100 companies share the site, and over 7,000 people work there. Fast broadband supports work that is sent as information.

How the internet has changed location

The internet has changed the importance of location for many services and knowledge-based firms. However, it has not made location irrelevant: businesses still need places that support the way they work. Shopping: customers used to visit the high street or retail park. Now many order online and receive deliveries from warehouses, so some town-centre shops have closed. Banking: branches used to be common in town centres. Banking is now mostly done on phones, so banks need fewer branches. Office work: workers used to travel to city-centre offices every day. Fast broadband allows…

Location still matters for online shops

Internet shopping does not remove the need to choose a suitable location. The key factor changes from being close to customers to being close to fast transport, so parcels can be delivered efficiently. Online shops still need warehouses. Warehouses are often beside motorway junctions so lorries and vans can reach many customers quickly.

More lessons in Economic activity and energy