Stoke-on-Trent ranked third worst in UK to cope with economic shocks
STOKE-ON-TRENT is one of the least economically resilient places in the country according to new research.
The city is number 322 in a league table of 324 local authority areas ranked by their ability to cope with economic shocks such as business failures and job losses. It also came bottom of the list of 30 West Midlands areas.
The research, conducted by Experian, was commissioned by BBC English Regions ahead of its debates on the Government's forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review.
Experian looked at four main themes – business, people, place and community, assessing educational attainment, average wages, life expectancy, house prices, unemployment, crime rate, and the local business base.
Other North Staffordshire areas fared better than Stoke-on-Trent – Stafford is ranked 11th in the Midlands and 162nd nationally, while the Staffordshire Moorlands is 13th place regionally and 178th overall. Newcastle is ranked 20th in the West Midlands and 240th nationally.
Elmbridge, in Surrey came top as the most economically resilient area while Middlesbrough was the least resilient nationally.
BBC One is showing a debate on the research tonight at 10.35pm.
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by Steph, Trent Vale
Friday, September 10 2010, 6:59PM
“I¿m not surprised that Stoke is one of the least resilient cities in West Midlands. There¿s simply no industry left to provide employment. It saddens me to think that Pottery industry will just be history. We¿re not all fat, thick or lazy, some of use are willing to work but if there¿s no jobs, How are we supposed to get employment?. It¿s a dog eat dog world, employers don¿t give people a chance and not everyone will provide training. People judge to quickly when they hardly know the truth.”
by bob, stockton brook
Friday, September 10 2010, 4:09PM
“So lets look on the bright side , this means that there are at least two other places in this country that are more miserable run down and depressing than Stoke-on-Trent . Not being the worst was a pleasant surprise .maybe in a few years we can aspire to unnoticed mediocrity and be as visitor friendly as Liverpool , Mossside ,lozzels , Erdington .”
by anon, hanley
Friday, September 10 2010, 12:38PM
“There's got to be a reason why the only two types of work that get invested here are distribution and call centres. Education perhaps? In answer to Barry, not likely to get drive and vision in an area with low education standards and large waistlines.”
by lee, Meir
Friday, September 10 2010, 11:43AM
“sorry doing two things at once lol, it should read "employees to be able to copy"”
by lee, Meir
Friday, September 10 2010, 11:38AM
“Barry there are a lot of local entrepreneurs in Stoke On Trent but none of them are big enough employs to able to copy with the mass redundancies this area as faced, so sorry your comment is totally irrelevant.”