Bridging the Gap

The benefits of foreign direct investment (FDI) have flowed overwhelmingly to core cities and large towns, finds this report by EY and Centre for Towns. 

The UK’s ability to attract FDI continues to be under close scrutiny in the run-up to Brexit. Over the last 20 years, the share of UK FDI projects accounted for by core cities has increased from 31 percent in 1997 to 56 percent in 2017.

Key points include:

• The benefits of FDI have flowed overwhelmingly to core cities and large towns
• Smaller places have seen almost no growth in two decades
• The UK needs to reshape its approach to attracting FDI to maximize the economic benefit across the country