Ilford leads UK's business population growth, according to Royal Mail's business barometer

Ilford in Essex leads the UK’s business population growth with an impressive 3.74 per cent increase, according to new results from Royal Mail’s Business Barometer.  Regeneration of the city centre and the town’s strong transport links with London, along with a continued focus on education have made Ilford a leading light in industry growth.

The Business Barometer, a detailed analysis of active businesses within the UK, also revealed that both Northern and Welsh towns and cities are also flourishing with two of each appearing in the table of top five growth areas between March and August 2007.

Ilford’s impressive performance saw it move up from fifth place in the previous Business Barometer to take top spot in the latest league table.  Stockton-on-Tees closely followed in second place with a 3.46 per cent growth and Wigan took third place with a 3.42 per cent increase.

Redbridge Councillor Keith Prince, Cabinet Member for Planning, Regeneration and the Environment, commented: "Commerce and industry are turning to Ilford as a place to do business, and this has a lot to do with the changing face and fortunes of the Metropolitan town centre. The town is now a thriving retail and municipal centre, with an ethnically diverse and cosmopolitan population.

"The high performance of the Borough's surrounding schools provide a highly skilled workforce for local and regional employers. The much heralded arrival of CrossRail and the Thames Gateway Bridge will bring Ilford even closer to the heart of London and the regeneration areas of Essex and Kent."

He added: "Boasting clean streets, low crime, good race relations and excellent public transport connections, we believe Ilford's transformation has only just begun."

Royal Mail’s Head of Data Strategy, Colin Bradshaw, said: "Royal Mail’s Business Barometer delivers a precise view of business movement and growth in the UK.  Since we deliver to every business address in the UK, we’re ideally placed to monitor the changing business environment from starts ups to existing businesses expanding."

Read the related article on the Financial Times website

Date: Monday 10 December 2007
Contact: Press Office
Direct Line: 020 8708 2151
Email: pressoffice@redbridge.gov.uk