Member Article

Warrington makes top ten British cities for economic performance

Centre for Cities has published its annual health check of UK urban areas, ‘Cities Outlook 2014’.

The report demonstrates that Warrington is one of only a few places that continue to improve setting the pace for the North West region, outstripping most of the UK.

The document is the authoritative economic index of the 64 largest cities and towns in the UK. The findings reinforce the importance of skills, good transport and broadband connections and a good industry base to economically successful cities.

The report, now in its seventh year, looks at and compares 64 UK cities. For the purposes of the report, the town of Warrington is classified as a city, by the size of its population.

Warrington has jumped from overall 54th place in 2008-09, 25th (2009-2012) and is now ranked 10th (2009 -13). This ranking is based on how Warrington has performed against the number of claimants to estimated changes in jobs; work-place weekly wages; the size of the business base and house values.

Warrington has a consistent presence in the top ten for all measured criteria. It was ranked:

5th in the top ten cities with the highest proportion of private sector employment (considering the ratio of private sector to public sector employment).

7th highest in terms of both employment rates and private sector jobs growth. 10th in terms of highest weekly earnings. Average earnings at £507 per week. 10th in terms of private and public sector jobs growth with a 2.7% increase.

The borough has the fourth highest jobs growth in the UK, at 4.5% – only bettered by Edinburgh, Brighton and London.

Only five cities maintained their position in having the highest employment rates per capita including Warrington, which is ranked 3rd with 77.8% (only topped by Reading and Gloucester). This marked a 2.3% increase on the data from the previous year.

Warrington also entered the top 10 for the first time in terms of business start-up rates. Based on start-ups for 2012, Warrington was ranked 10th.

It is notable, however, that a 2013 survey by UHY Hacker Young placed Warrington postcode WA1, as the top location in the UK outside of London for new business start-ups. This figure is expected to improve therefore in the 2015 Centre for Cities report.

Warrington is not currently listed in the top ten table for having maximum broadband.

The Connecting Cheshire high speed broadband programme currently being rolled out will significantly change this in future years and will ensure Warrington has 96% access to high-speed fibre optic broadband to all premises by 2015, 12 months ahead of schedule.

Leader of Warrington Borough Council Cllr Terry O’Neill said, “Today’s report is very, very good news. Warrington continues to lead and set the pace for the North West region and indeed the rest of the UK.

“We have set in place a robust framework in order to protect, maintain and further grow the borough economy: ‘Warrington Means Business’. Last year alone we announced regeneration projects totalling over £450 million in value, of which over £210 million is committed and underway.

“Last week’s go-ahead for a £10 million University Technical College, to be built by the University of Chester, will strengthen, build and maintain our nuclear and engineering skills for the future and kick-start the £190 million Stadium Quarter project.”

Steve Park, managing director of Warrington & Co, Warrington’s partnership for growth, said: “The Warrington economy is consistently outperforming that of most of the UK.

“We are delighted that this is yet another endorsement of our economic strength. 2014 is a very exciting year for the town. Plans continue to move forward at considerable pace in relation to the physical regeneration of the town centre.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .