Better business in Birmingham

Birmingham has leapfrogged seven places to 14th in Cushman and Wakefield's 20th annual survey on Europe's major business cities. The survey,European Cities Monitor 2009, was independently conducted for Cushman & Wakefield by TNS BMRB using 500 of Europes largest companies and their senior executives from nine European countries, gaining their views on Europe’s leading business cities.



Birmingham has made the biggest moves this year rising seven places and sharing the title of best place for value for money of offices with Leeds.

However there is work to be done in ensuring Birmingham retain it's attractiveness to business and attracts companies which have considered Manchester and other cities as good business locations ahead of Birmingham. This is particularly telling in the question that was posed to companies about future expansion plans across Europe and the number of companies expecting to locate in the cities shown within the next five years. Seven companies were expecting to locate in Manchester while only three were expecting to locate in Birmingham.

When companies were asked how well they know each of the cities as a business location Birmingham dropped from 28% familarity in 2008 to 25% this year. Birmingham has however jumped in the ratings for best cities in terms of easy access to markets from being ranked 17 in 2008 to being ranked 6 this year. The quality of staff in Birmingham has also risen with Birmingham being rated jointly fifth alongside Amsterdam for best cities in terms of qualified staff.

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