(Image: PA)
BRADFORD has been named one of the UK’s top cities for manufacturing growth.
The city ranked sixth in the Regional Manufacturing Growth Powerhouse Report, compiled by Unleashed, which evaluates locations based on workforce size, warehouse availability, and broadband speed.
Bradford scored 56 out of 100, with particular strengths in workforce size.
Other northern cities also performed well, with Wakefield, Hull, and Leeds all securing places in the top ten.
Joe Llewellyn, general manager of ERP small business division at The Access Group, said: "Regional disparities aren’t always obvious when you look at the UK’s manufacturing health as a whole – but they are an important barometer for both policymakers as well as manufacturers looking to start or expand a business.
"Our study challenges assumptions around certain regions, uncovering unexpected opportunities and highlighting issues that need to be addressed urgently if manufacturing is to play a part in shaping the local economy."
Stoke-on-Trent topped the list with a score of 64.24, followed by Leeds and Birmingham, both supported by established manufacturing communities and large workforces.
The report also assessed regional performance using operational data from 1,322 SME manufacturers, focusing on sales revenue, lead days, profit margins, stock levels and purchasing costs.