North West cities lead the way
The economic performance of the North West has been boosted by the continuing competitiveness of the region’s cities.
Liverpool, Salford and Manchester have all made notable gains on the UK Competitiveness Index which covers 407 locations.
The report, produced by the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, shows a significant improvement across the North West which has overtaken Scotland and the West Midlands since 2006.
The index takes into account research and development expenditure, productivity, business start-up rates, the proportion of the working age population with a degree and exports per head.
Liverpool and Salford rose 44 places to 300th place and 199th respectively. Manchester sits at 96th spot, up 24 places.
Bolton climbed seven places to 308th and Stockport climbed 18 places to 113th. Preston rose two to 179th but Blackpool was down 28 places at 397th and Lancaster dropped 25 places to 299th.
The report’s author Professor Robert Huggins, said: “Although Liverpool is still ranked relatively lowly, its rise up the rankings based on growing economic activity and workforce skills is a clear signal of economic revival and growing prosperity.”
He added: “The improvements that Manchester and Salford are enjoying are in accordance with the sustainable rejuvenation of the North West. The region’s competitiveness growth was at seventh position when we last produced the index in 2006 and now it is at number one.”
Britain’s most competitive city is Guildford, followed by St Albans and Cambridge. The least competitive are Hull, Stoke-on-Trent, Sunderland, and Swansea.
London remains the UK’s most competitive region, followed by South East England and the East of England. The least competitive regional economy overall is the North East, followed by Wales, Northern Ireland, and Yorkshire and the Humber.
