UK Smart Cities Index: Which urban hubs are the most switched on?
T h ere is nothing like a bit of inter-city parity off the back of digital innovation and tech advancement to make for a reassuring read. And the very first EG Smart Cities Index offers just that.
Based on the metrics we have used to rank cities on how smart they are, it is evident that many of the UK’s urban hubs are delivering impressive goods when it comes to the digital credentials they boast. While there is a frontrunner – more on that later – there is also a clear cluster of trailblazers following hot on its heels, suggesting that when it comes to picking out the UK’s smartest cities, it’s all to play for.
As talent and occupiers alike continue to flock to the areas where they can see evidence of decent connectivity infrastructure, smart buildings and a strong network of tech companies, now has never been a better time for cities to prove their digital worth.
There is nothing like a bit of inter-city parity off the back of digital innovation and tech advancement to make for a reassuring read. And the very first EG Smart Cities Index offers just that.
Based on the metrics we have used to rank cities on how smart they are, it is evident that many of the UK’s urban hubs are delivering impressive goods when it comes to the digital credentials they boast. While there is a frontrunner – more on that later – there is also a clear cluster of trailblazers following hot on its heels, suggesting that when it comes to picking out the UK’s smartest cities, it’s all to play for.
As talent and occupiers alike continue to flock to the areas where they can see evidence of decent connectivity infrastructure, smart buildings and a strong network of tech companies, now has never been a better time for cities to prove their digital worth.
While Manchester takes the lead as the UK’s smartest city based on our criteria, topping four out of the 10 metrics, there is no room for resting on laurels, as Bristol comes in a close second, ranking top in three categories.
Manchester offers the most WiredScore Platinum buildings by far at 99 – 49 more than closest rival Birmingham (50). It also tops, or rather bottoms, the league on people per Wi-Fi hotspot within the city, coming in at just 395 while some cities are dealing with figures of more than 1,000 residents battling it out at a time for just one precious hotspot. Unsurprisingly, Manchester also boasts the most tech companies out of our 12 UK cities, with almost 6,000. And when it comes to CCTV cameras, arguably one of the most important metrics for a truly connected city of the future, it is also streaks ahead with a massive 248,000. Birmingham, again coming in second in this category, has 109,000 CCTV cameras, with the average across the cities hovering at around 70,000.
If it’s decent investment and great download speeds you are after, head to Bristol. The city topped the league on both of those metrics, coming in with a £270m investment figure – £100m more than Manchester’s £163m, which came in second. And that download speed of 33.12 Mbps is not to be underestimated.
With occupiers, investors and talent all looking for different things from a digital city, there are plenty of other UK hubs that demonstrated impressive statistics and credentials. While Birmingham didn’t actually top any of the metrics, it did perform incredibly well across many. Apart from coming second in terms of WiredScore Platinum buildings, the number of CCTV cameras and the number of tech firms, it can also boast a relatively low number of people per Wi-Fi hotspot and a high Smart City Index ranking, coming in at number three. This demonstrates that the city is a high flier across many digital elements including smart cities, connectivity and infrastructure.
Leeds was the frontrunner when it came to SmartScore-certified buildings, boasting five when many of the UK’s major cities are still struggling to even get off the ground with one. Newcastle offers the most 4G coverage at just over 61%.
In Scotland, Edinburgh and Glasgow are operating at a remarkably similar level of digital prowess across the board, although the league tips in Glasgow’s favour on almost every category except investment. Despite Glasgow boasting more smart buildings, a larger tech workforce, better 4G coverage and higher download speeds, it only saw £29m of tech investment in 2020, compared with Edinburgh’s £74m.
Rather than poor performers in this league, there are areas where a lack of data might suggest more needs to be done to monitor and track digital advances. Cardiff, Liverpool and, in particular, Southampton were not represented in some of the metrics and data sources. This could be down to a lack of data, a lack of measurable data or the need for a fresh focus on digital enhancement in these areas. It will be interesting to keep track of how these hubs perform within the same league year-on-year.
Future-proofing our cities must remain a priority across the UK now and over the comng years and, this being the case, there is still work to be done across the board. But as far as debut rankings goes, EG’s Smart Cities Index suggests that action is, at the very least, under way.
To send feedback, e-mail emily.wright@eg.co.uk or tweet @EmilyW_9 or @EGPropertyNews
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