Top UK Cities for Highest Productivity
The pandemic changed the way many people work, with people in the UK now having more flexibility to work remotely. However, not all locations are equal when it comes to the suitability to work efficiently.
A recent study by Currys ranked 34 UK cities for productivity based on several factors, including download speed, internet outages, access to fast fibre, and cost of co-working spaces. The cities were ranked with an overall score out of 40.
The analysis reveals that Coventry is the best city in the UK for productivity with a score of 36 out of 40. This is due to relatively low coworking costs, and effective coverage of the internet across the city.
Coventry boasts the best full fibre internet coverage in the country, and scores 13th in the country in terms of internet outages, which puts it far above its neighbours Birmingham and Leicester, and third in the country for best download speed.
In second place was Slough with a total score of 33 out of 40. The city ranked well for its download speed and low number of internet outages. However, it is one of the more expensive locations for co-working costs.
In third place was Swindon with a total score of 32. This city, although infamous for its nightmare roundabout, scored well when it came to the number of internet outages and access to full fibre.
UK’s top 10 cities for productivity
Rank
City
Outages score
Full Fibre % score
Download speed score
Co-working costs score
Total score
1
Coventry
9.9
10
7.1
8.7
35.8
2
Slough
9.8
8.1
10
4.9
32.8
3
Swindon
10
9.5
6.8
5.8
32
4
Derby
10
8.5
7
5.8
31.3
5
Oldham
10
4.7
6.3
10
31
6
Bristol
9.9
8.2
6.5
5.9
30.4
7
Leeds
9
8.9
5.2
7.3
30.3
8
Leicester
9.9
5.5
7.3
7.5
30.2
9
Exeter
10
8.5
4.8
6.1
29.5
10
Cardiff
9.8
7.5
5.2
7
29.4
Worst cities for productivity
Out of the 34 cities analyzed, it was found that the capital, London, was the worst city for productivity, with an overall score of just 12 out of 40.
London is the worst for internet outages, offers the highest co-working costs, and scored poorly for full fibre coverage and download speed. Bad news for the plethora of digital reliant businesses based in the big smoke.
The second worst was Burnley scoring just 16 out of 40, and Blackpool was third worst with a score of 19 out of 40.
UK’s 10 worst cities for productivity
Rank
City
Outages rank
Full Fibre % rank
Download speed rank
Co working costs rank
Total score
1
London
1
6.1
4
1
12
2
Burnley
10
1.4
2.6
2.4
16
3
Blackpool
9.9
1.8
2.6
4.6
19
4
Gateshead
10
1
2.9
7.6
21
5
Bolton
9.8
3.8
6.7
1
21
6
Brighton and Hove
9.9
3
3.6
4.2
21
7
Preston
10
3.5
3.8
4.6
22
8
Plymouth
10
1.9
4.4
5.5
22
9
Newcastle upon Tyne
9.9
6.6
2.3
4.3
23
10
Manchester
8.9
5
6
4.1
24
The study assessed 34 cities against four different factors that are important to consider when setting up a business or choosing a place to work from. All data was collected in January and February 2023.
