As we begin the new year, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is of course still unfolding. While that impact has been felt right across the UK, it has not been felt equally. In many ways the pandemic has reinforced existing economic and social disadvantages.
As you will be aware since 2012, we have published an annual Demos-PwC Good Growth for Cities Index to measure the performance of cities and regions. The Good Growth Index looks beyond GDP and covers broad measures of economic wellbeing, including jobs, income, health, skills, work-life balance, housing, transport and the environment.
Watch Keith give an overview of the South East region's cities' performance in the latest Good Growth for Cities Index, quite rightly focusing on:
Watch Julian discuss Southampton again scoring above the UK average as well as:
Watch Simon's video discussing:
Watch John as he discusses:
Overall the East of England has fared reasonably well in the latest Good for Growth Index. Cambridge came 10th in the index closely followed by Norwich in 13th.
Towns hit hard during the pandemic, such as Southend have seen their economies decrease by more than 13% whilst at the same time are projected as having strong GVA growth rates for 2021.