What do you think is vital today?
Surveyors Lambert Smith Hampton have published their "Vitality Index" - not a ranking of the value of smoothies based on kale and broccoli, but a review of data on productivity, growth, education, affluence, green issues and entrepreneurial attitude. The index excludes London, as so many do these days, treating it almost as a separate country. Seven out of the top ten are in the South East, but there is also growth in other areas, including Bristol and the Northern Powerhouse. Now all we need is for the Chinese economy not to fall over.....
The ‘UK Vitality Index’ assesses the UK’s largest towns and cities outside London to provide a health check of their local economies and identify which are most robust, are best positioned to support growth and will provide the greatest opportunities for businesses to expand. The results are based on the analysis of 20 datasets, with each location ranked within six separate categories: most productive, fastest growing, most entrepreneurial, best educated, greenest and rising affluence.
The top 10
Overall, the top 10 towns and cities in the 2016 UK Vitality Index are:
Cambridge
Brighton
Oxford
Reading
Guildford
Bristol
St Albans
Manchester
Edinburgh
Milton Keynes ”