Manchester beats Birmingham as business destination
BIRMINGHAM City Council leader Mike Whitby has underlined his determination to improve the city’s reputation after an influential study showed Manchester with a clear lead as a favourite business destination.
The 2008 Cushman & Wakefield UK Cities Monitor, reflecting the views of 200 of the country’s chief executives, saw Birmingham remain in third position as the best place in which to locate a business after Manchester and London.
But Birmingham’s reputation as a shopping and leisure destination and the quality of life enjoyed by residents fell.
Out of the 14 main categories used to produce the monitor, Birmingham slipped back in six, stayed the same in five and advanced in three.
Coun Whitby (Con Harborne) said he was “amazed” the city fell to fourth spot as a shopping and leisure centre, trailing behind Leeds, Manchester and London. He was also concerned that the monitor now rates Birmingham as the second most accessible city, down from first place a year ago.
Speaking at the launch of the monitor, Coun Whitby said Birmingham had made great strides since 2005 when the city failed even to warrant a place in Cushman & Wakefield’s table of top European cities. It is now in 21st place.
He said: “In 2005 Birmingham had no Grade A speculative office space. Now we are first for office availability.
“The challenge is to make sure the perception of Birmingham among people that do not live here is changed.”
And he remains confident that Birmingham can catch and overtake Manchester.
“While we are pleased to have finished in the top three, I sincerely believe that the survey only just starts to scrape the surface of the true picture,” he said.
“With more than £17 billion worth of regeneration currently on our books, including the £600 million New Street Gateway project, airport extension and new library, we are very much a city of the future.
“With this infrastructure for growth in place our biggest challenge now is to get out there and let as many investors as possible know about the opportunities which exist in this city.”
