Overview

• London ranks first for mid‑market performance, followed by Manchester, Leeds and Oxford in a new regional analysis.
• The study examines firms with £25m–£500m turnover using innovation, profit, headcount and sales as core metrics.
• Manchester’s creative and digital ecosystem anchored by MediaCityUK, Oxford’s university spinouts, and Leeds’ health tech linked to NHS Digital drive their strength.
• Emerging hotspots include Slough, Telford & Wrekin, Swindon for climate tech, South Cambridgeshire for spinouts and Aberdeenshire for energy transition expertise.
• The report estimates an extra £35bn in GVA by 2030 with the right support, as NatWest, the Northern Powerhouse Partnership and the CBI urge improved access to finance and locally aligned skills ahead of the Autumn Budget.