City region is best in Europe for friendliness

Greater Manchester’s reputation as a leading European business location has been recognised in the Financial Times fDi magazine’s renowned European Cities of the Future 2018/2019 report.

The report ranks the most promising investment destinations in Europe in five categories.

Greater Manchester is ranked first place for business friendliness, for the second time in a row, and top 10 in a further two categories.

The city region overall ranks sixth place in the large European cities of the Future index, an increase of one place since the previous report in 2016/17.

The result demonstrates the importance of business initiatives such as Hello Manchester which offers a package of discounted office space and business advice to international investors.

Greater Manchester and Greater Manchester’s Local Enterprise Partnership also ranked in the top 10 in a further three categories, ranking fourth overall.

The full results are listed in the table below.

Latest figures from MIDAS show that the inward investment agency supported the creation and safeguarding 4,879 jobs in Greater Manchester over the 2016/17 period, with an economic impact of £290.4mi.

And more recent success with Tech Mahindra opening a new innovation centre creating 80 new jobs into Media City shows the continued progress in attracting international giants to the region.

Tim Newns, chief executive of MIDAS, Manchester’s inward investment agency, said: “These rankings demonstrate Greater Manchester is a leading European city for business.

“The region features amongst a strong peer group and it is crucial we continue to showcase our world leading capabilities to increase our position next year.

“Despite the challenges, we are seeing a continued supply of international companies choosing Greater Manchester as the place to base and grow their business, especially in tech and life sciences.”

Mike Blackburn, chair of the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “These results are testament to the strength of Greater Manchester’s public-private partnership.

“Inward investment is crucial to bringing global brands into the region and creating new jobs so we need to work harder than ever to create an attractive environment for investors that includes competitive quality office space, a strong talent pipeline, economically booming and well connected.”

fDi’s Large European Cities of the Future 2018/19 – business friendliness Winner
fDi’s Large European Cities of the Future 2018/19 6
fDi’s Large European Cities of the Future 2018/19 – economic potential 6
fDi’s Large European Cities of the Future 2018/19 – connectivity 4

 

Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership

fDi’s Local enterprise partnerships of the future 2018/19 4
fDi’s Local enterprise partnerships of the future 2018/19 – economic potential 5
fDi’s Local enterprise partnerships of the future 2018/19 – business friendliness 4
fDi’s Local enterprise partnerships of the future 2018/19 – human capital and lifestyle 8

 

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