Foreign direct investment (FDI) is a high priority for the new Labour government. It’s keen to position the UK as an attractive destination to do business and create a landscape that fosters investment and collaboration.
It’s also focused on decentralising economic growth, ensuring that all regions across the UK can benefit from FDI. Freeports and Investment Zones are testament to this, making cities across northern England and Scotland more attractive to overseas investors and boosting their ability to create future jobs.
But how successful has the UK been in attracting investment this year?
Which cities are attracting investment?
Our new UK Attractiveness Index revisits previous findings and provides new perspectives, crucial for conducting business in a competitive landscape.
In partnership with Cebr, we’ve updated the Gross Value Added (GVA) predictions for 50 leading locations across the UK. Incorporating the latest statistics from the Office for National Statistics and the Department for Business and Trade, our analysis is grounded in the most current data available.
Key findings
- London remains the most attractive city for investment, supported by a highly skilled workforce and business creation.
- Edinburgh replaces Brighton as the highest-ranking city outside London, with a consistently robust performance across all three pillars.
- Every city aside from Brighton has improved on its Q3 2024 score, even as GVA forecasts were downgraded for all but one city.
- Aberdeen was the biggest riser from our July 2024 edition, jumping 18 places to become the 21st most attractive city.
- Liverpool, another significant climber, finished 15 places higher in 12, benefitting from its status as a Freeport and Investment Zone.
Get the insight
If you are looking to invest in the UK or are looking to grow your business overseas, our team of legal and financial experts can help. Find out more about our international investment support.
