The office space in Edinburgh's Conference House is located in the heart of Edinburgh's historic financial district, opposite the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on Morrison Street. The Exchange area of the city is home to a number of major financial institutions. The building is in a prominent position and allows easy access to Edinburgh's West End and the old town. The capital of Scotland and a global centre for business, science, education and the arts, Edinburgh is a prosperous place said to have the strongest economy of any UK city outside London. Banking has been a part of the economic life of Edinburgh for over 300 years and today it is the UK's second financial centre after London and Europe's fourth by equity assets. Tourism, financial services and banking are particularly important employers as well as education, the public sector and hi-tech research and development.