Year 8 lesson on economic activity

1. Factors affecting the
location of economic
activities
Key questions
What are the factors affecting economic
activities?

2. Starter
 Cut out all of the cards
 Match up with the correct definition.
 Sort into physical and human factors
 Stick in your book when correct but check with
me first!
Extension: For each one give an example.

3. Factory location

4. Physical factors
 Raw materials – the bulkier and heavier these are to transport,
the nearer a factory should be located to the raw materials.
This was even more important in times when transport was
less developed.
 Power (energy) – this is needed to work the machines in the
factory. Early industry needed to be sited near to fast-flowing
rivers or coal reserves, but, today, electricity can be
transported long distances.
 Natural routes – in the days before the railway, car or lorry,
transport was by river or horse and cart, so flat areas and river
valleys were essential.
 Site and Land – although early industry did not take up much
space at first, it did need flat land for building. As the size of

5. Human factors
 Labour – factories, and some other sectors of the
industry need large numbers of workers. Others
needed skilled employees e.g. technology-based
industries often need university graduates.
 Capital (money) – early industry depended on
wealthy people willing to risk their own money but
investment now also comes from banks and
governments.
 Markets – the size and the location of markets has
become more important than the source of raw
materials.

6. Human factors
 Government policies – as governments tend to
control most wealth, they can influence industrial
location by giving grants to help certain parts of
their country.
 Improved technology – examples include facsimile
(fax) machines, electronic mail and satellite
communications.
 Leisure facilities – in the town and countryside,
leisure facilities for employees are becoming more
important.
 Economies of scale – small units may become

7. Task
 You are in charge of a large industrial company and want to build a new
factory which will make your main product. Your job is to design the
factory before it is built so that you will have a good idea of
 what it will looklike
 what it will need in orderto be successful.
 Complete the sheet first to support yourideas - go through the 10
questions listed and record your answers in the spaces provided. When
you have finished, you should have a much clearer idea of what your
factory will be like.
 You can then start to design yourfactory but make sure that your factory
design:
 ties in with youranswers
 is fully labelled to explain yourchoices.
 Design yourfactory and draw a sketch of the site it is located in (froma bird’s eye
view) and add labels to explain why you have built it there