Gloucester’s MP Richard Graham said recent research shows business productivity among SMEs is higher in Gloucester than anywhere else in the SW of England. “39% of our work force are in SMEs: the turnover in Gloucester SMEs is up 147% and productivity up 120% over the last four years. It’s an achievement all Glosterpreneurs should be proud of.”
The City MP added that this trend of SME growth should continue: “Gloucester’s relatively affordable property – much cheaper than Bristol or Cheltenham – makes our city a great place to set up and grow a new business, alongside good schools and easy access to the rest of the country.”
Other key findings in the Sage report are the links between local factors and higher productivity: and especially educational attainment (share of the local population with NVQ4+ level qualifications), good transport connections and levels of SME exports. Richard noted that the growing number of higher apprenticeship qualifications, including from the new Nursing Associate course, all help Gloucester’s position.
“What we can build on,” Richard noted, as the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy, “is our level of exports, which are focused on a number of great successes and their supply chains. That’s also why I’ve invited the Minister from the Department for International Trade to visit Safran today and meet some of their sub-contractors and others in aerospace to highlight opportunities.”
NOTE TO EDITORS
The State of Small Business report was published on Monday 23 October.