Four UK cities have ranked in the top 10 in Colliers International’s European Cities of Influence report – the only country with more than one city represented at the top.
The report, which rates cities based on factors such as occupier attractiveness, availability of talent and quality of life, ranked London at number one, with Birmingham fifth, Edinburgh seventh and Manchester 10th.
The UK capital ranked highly due to its economic output and the size of its workforce catchment, and received a perfect score for its pool of latent and future talent.
Birmingham came first among mid-sized European cities due its size, growth and high productivity potential, which saw it top the FDI rankings for the UK in 2017. Colliers said it expects ongoing regeneration in the city to drive further occupier and investment activity.
Manchester, meanwhile, ranked highly because it has one of the highest student population densities in Europe, which is a strong potential driver of occupational demand.
Andrew McFarlane, director and head of the North West for Colliers, said: “Manchester continues to boast one of the highest student populations in Europe with two of the UK’s largest universities and one of the largest medical campuses in western Europe.
“The city is increasingly capable of retaining this future talent as a major force in the Northern Powerhouse, which is helping to drive greater levels of investment into the city.”
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