London and Paris have been named as Europe’s best cities for business while Moscow can expect the biggest influx of companies over the next five years, according to Cushman & Wakefield’s European Cities Monitor report, released today. The global real estate consultant also named Barcelona as the city with the highest quality of life and significantly increased its rating for Brussels, Zurich, Dusseldorf and Manchester.
London and Paris have been named as Europe’s best cities for business while Moscow can expect the biggest influx of companies over the next five years, according to Cushman & Wakefield’s European Cities Monitor report, released today. The global real estate consultant also named Barcelona as the city with the highest quality of life and significantly increased its rating for Brussels, Zurich, Dusseldorf and Manchester.
Brussels enters into the top five of the overall ranking (up two places to 4th place from 6th last year) at the expense of Barcelona and Amsterdam which move down to 5th and 6th respectively. Frankfurt is ranked 3rd. The biggest risers are all regional cities including Zurich (up to 10th from 13th), Dusseldorf (up to 12th from 16th) and Manchester (up to 14th from 18th).
Philippe Hurt, partner, Cushman & Wakefield in Brussels, said: Brussels authorities such as Invest in Brussels have done a tremendous job in the last couple of years helping to attract companies keen to be located in the decision making heart of Europe and in a city that is cosmopolitan but compact and a relatively safe and secure long term investment.
London is ranked the number one city in half of the 12 major rankings including access to markets, availability of qualified staff and international and internal transport links. It scores poorly, however, on the cost of staff, the cost of office space and levels of pollution.
