UK Cities Monitor: London and Manchester lead survey

18 Sep, 2007, London

Manchester has overtaken Birmingham in this year’s UK Cities Monitor business survey which ranks the country’s major cities against a number of criteria considered essential for good business. Although both are ranked behind London overall, both Manchester and Birmingham, as well as cities as diverse as Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Nottingham, are often ranked higher than the capital on a number of factors.

UK Cities Monitor is a survey of over 200 companies undertaken by global real estate adviser Cushman & Wakefield. This is the second year of the UK survey although it has undertaken the annual European Cities Monitor since 1990 (this year’s edition is due to be published on 6^th October).

In addition to the overall UK Cities Monitor ranking, the in-depth survey of senior company directors ranks the UK's major cities according to factors such as quality of life, ease of recruiting quality staff, cost of staff, freedom from pollution, retail and leisure facilities, access to markets, internal and external transport links, value for money of office space and car parking facilities.

It also looks at factors regarded as most important by companies when deciding where to locate. ‘Ease of recruiting qualified staff’ is considered the most important followed by ‘easy access to customers and clients’. Cost factors are the next most important in terms of both property and labour.

Adrian Hill, head of business space, Cushman & Wakefield said: “It’s clear that senior directors of UK companies overwhelmingly favour the country’s three largest cities principally because of their population, access to markets and transport infrastructure. The rise of cities such as Bristol, Glasgow and Edinburgh however show that softer factors such as quality of life are deemed increasingly important for a firm’s employees.”

Elaine Rossall, head of European business space research, Cushman & Wakefield said: “London is now essentially one of a small number of ‘world cities’. Its sheer size and position as a global financial centre mean that it is always going to be the most recognised and successful business location in the UK. What is interesting therefore is to see which cities are jostling for position below it. Most of the cities in our ranking compete with each other to attract businesses from overseas and relocations of existing UK companies. They are increasingly recognising the need to promote their competitive advantages and to understand the complex ingredients of success to ensure that their location remains competitive.”

UK Cities Monitor 2007: The best city in which to locate a business today

Rank 2007 (2006)	City
1. (1)	London
2. (3)	Manchester
3. (2)	Birmingham
4. (5)	Bristol
5. (4)	Leeds
6. (7)	Glasgow
7. (8)	Newcastle
8. (11)	Edinburgh
9. (10)	Liverpool
10. (12)	Cardiff
11. (9)	Nottingham
12. (6)	Sheffield
13. (na)	Southampton
14. (13)	Reading
15. (14)	Belfast

UK Cities Monitor 2007: The best city by different criteria

City	Factor
Manchester	Best city for a new headquarters
Manchester	Best city for a new back office function
Glasgow	Best city for a new call centre
London	Best city for hotel accommodation
Manchester	City doing the most to improve itself
London	Best city for easy access to markets
London	Best city for recruiting qualified staff
Birmingham	Best city for external transport links
London	Best city for international transport links
Newcastle	Best city for cost of staff
London	Best city for availability of financial incentives
Nottingham	Best city for value for money office space
Manchester	Best city for availability of office space
London	Best city for internal transport
Manchester	Best city for car parking
Edinburgh	Best city for quality of life for employees
London	Best city for retail and leisure facilities
Edinburgh	Best city for freedom from pollution
London	Best city for a lively environment

Other findings in the report:

Impact on business over the next ten years

Staff recruitment and retention is seen as having the greatest impact followed by Government bureaucracy and regulation
Conflict and terrorism are not seen to have a major impact on business

Relocation/outsourcing

Nearly 23% of companies had relocated to another lower cost location in the past 12 months with the UK the favoured destination followed by China

Company expansion

Manchester can expect the biggest influx of companies over the next five years followed by Birmingham and Bristol

Familiarity with other cities

Outside of the main ranking Aberdeen and Milton Keynes were considered the most important for business, closely followed by Leicester and Oxford

FULL REPORT FROM helen.basil@eur.cushwake.com or chris.bond@eur.cushwake.com

Commentary on the results from:

Adrian Hill, head of business space, Cushman & Wakefield: 020 7152 5074

Elaine Rossall, head of European business space research, Cushman & Wakefield: 020 7152 5319

Ends

For further information, please contact:

Chris Bond, UK Media Relations Manager

Cushman & Wakefield

Tel: + 44 20 7152 5006 / 07793 808 006

Notes to Editors:

Cushman & Wakefield is one of the world’s largest commercial real estate services firms. Founded in 1917, the firm has 215 offices in 56 countries, and 12,000 talented professionals. Cushman & Wakefield delivers integrated solutions by actively advising, implementing and managing on behalf of landlords, tenants, lenders and investors through every stage of the real estate process. These solutions include representing clients in the buying, selling, financing, leasing and managing of assets. The firm also provides valuation advice, strategic planning and research, portfolio analysis, and site selection and space location assistance, among many other advisory services. To find out more about Cushman & Wakefield, please visit www.cushmanwakefield.com

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