OXFORD LEADS OTHER AREAS FOR ‘VIBRANT ECONOMY’

The Thames Valley is home to some of the most dynamic business environments in the UK, but has pockets of social deprivation that could hinder growth, data from Grant Thornton UK LLP’s Vibrant Economy Index has revealed.

Oxford was placed second out of 324 local authorities in England, scoring 108.54, following closely behind Cambridge for the national crown. While other council areas in the Thames Valley performed highly overall – with 12 of the 15 scoring in the top 20% nationally, and four appearing in the top 10 – the research also identified those areas that, it is claimed, are falling short.

Grant Thornton’s Vibrant Economy Index ranks every local authority in England on its ‘vibrancy’, providing an indication of social performance as well as economic factors. Places were measured by 52 key factors across key performance indicators – prosperity; dynamism and opportunity; inclusion and equality; health, wellbeing and happiness; resilience and sustainability; and community, trust and belonging – and awarded an overall ‘vibrancy’ score, with 100 being the average.