Bradford named "UK's most-improved" city

Bradford has been named as the most-improved city in Britain for jobs growth, skill levels and quality of life, a new report shows.

The Good Growth for Cities 2019 index, published by professional services giant PwC, showed that Bradford has experienced a large reduction in its unemployment rate, measured at 4.1 per cent in 2018 compared to 10 per cent in 2015.

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The PwC document also had good news for Hull which was named as having been home to good growth in income distribution and job creation.

Picture - Asadour GuzelianPicture - Asadour Guzelian
Picture - Asadour Guzelian
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As a whole, cities in Yorkshire and the North East performed well on house price to earnings, where all nine cities score above the national average.

In terms of transport, every city bar Sheffield scored above the national average.

West Yorkshire is the only Combined Authority in the region to score above the national average, ranking fourth overall nationally and seeing the largest increase in its absolute score.

Of the LEP’s in the region only York, North Yorkshire and East Ridings score above the national average and ranks eighth out of 38 LEP areas.

Bradford's City Hall - Asadour GuzelianBradford's City Hall - Asadour Guzelian
Bradford's City Hall - Asadour Guzelian
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“Bradford is one of the largest cities in the UK, and the youngest city, offering a large and talented workforce that has so much to offer not just Northern Powerhouse growth but the UK’s economic growth too.”

Earlier this PwC invested into a new Assurance Centre in Bradford which is already employing 135 members of staff.

Bradford Council Chief Executive Kersten England said: “We are delighted to be rated as the most improved city in this year’s Good Growth Index.

Will Richardson - PwCWill Richardson - PwC
Will Richardson - PwC

“This is in part is recognition of our employment growth and the great quality of life in the district.

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“This has come during a great year where there are many positives to point to - from great national businesses investing in the district such as the NEC and Channel 4 to our strong local businesses such as the growing EXA Networks in the IT sector and expanding high-tech engineering businesses such as Global Precision Engineering in Keighley.”