Growing in popularity

Southampton has been ranked third in an annual UK-wide index: the 2017 Good Growth for Cities 2017 Index published by PwC and think tank Demos.

The research sets out to show that there’s more to life, work and general well-being than GDP. The index measures the performance of 42 of the UK’s largest cities, England’s Local Enterprise Partnerships and the nine Combined Authorities against a basket of ten indicators based on the views of the public as to what is key to economic success and wellbeing.

These include employment, health, income and skills – the most important factors, as judged by the public – while housing affordability, commuting times, environmental factors and income inequality are also included, as is the number of new business starts.

CEO at Southampton Science Park, Peter Birkett, said: “We take great pride in championing start-up and growing businesses across the science and technology spectrum here on the South Coast. Our unique working environment, flexible approach, entrepreneurial community spirit and business support is, we believe, unrivalled. More importantly, it is successful: creating an inspiring platform through which not just the businesses, but the wider community, can flourish.”