7 January 2014
Woking ranks 41st in UK Competitiveness Index, 36th for quality of life
Woking ranks 41st in UK Competitiveness Index
Woking ranks 41st on the UK Competitive Index for 2013, meaning the Borough is in the top 11% across the UK. For the UKCI, "competitiveness is considered to consist of the capability of an economy to attract and maintain firms with stable or rising market shares in an activity"1 as well as the "development and sustainability of businesses" 1. The index is a measure of an area's impact upon the Nation's economy.
To put the ranking into some context, the South East of England is by far the most competitive region in the country with many London Boroughs, including the cities of London and Westminster making up the top 50. Other cities also make up the rest of this list. Woking is also a member of EM3, the third most competitive LEP area in the country also and to be within that mix means Woking's chances are positive and with the economic forecast for 2014 looking good. With news like Woking having the highest 1st year survival rate of start ups in Surrey, the Borough will look to improve upon this year's ranking even further.
Woking ranks 36th for quality of life
The Residents of the Borough also appear to be getting happier, as with the findings of the 2013 Halifax Quality of Life Survey, Woking is back into the top 50 with a ranking of 36th, after dropping off the list in 2012.
This survey measures a range of factors into account from employment, educations and earnings to housing, health and the environment.
1page 5, UK Competitiveness Index 2013