The index is an annual assessment of which towns and cities outside London are best-placed to support business growth, looking at factors such as entrepreneurialism, productivity, population changes, wage growth and levels of education.

It assesses the UK’s 66 largest towns and cities outside London to identify which are best positioned for growth and provide the greatest opportunities for businesses expansion. The results are based on the analysis of 20 datasets, with each location ranked within six separate sub-indices: most productive, fastest growing, most entrepreneurial, best educated, greenest and rising affluence.