Manchester is the fastest-growing city outside London and is among the top five most “dynamic” places in Britain, according to a report.
Based on an analysis of demographics and economic growth during the eight years to 2012, Manchester is followed by Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Bristol and Brighton and Hove in a list of the five highest-growth cities outside the capital published today by Grant Thornton.
The consultant rates Cambridge at the top of its rankings measured by dynamism, followed by Reading, Manchester, Bristol and Oxford in its list of cities other than London that are flourishing. Its criteria for assessing dynamism include the prevalence of high-value, knowledge-intensive businesses and a supportive environment for enterprise, as well as whether a community is diverse and has a young and economically active workforce.
Cambridge is one of Britain’s technology “hubs” and is home to a string of successful businesses, such as ARM Holdings, Featurespace and CSR.
Grant Thornton also identifies “growth corridors” that it says are playing a significant role in economic expansion. They include the channel between Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds, as well as the Nottingham-to-Sheffield corridor and London’s links with several cities, including Cambridge, Bristol and Brighton.