Serving the Teesside Business Community | 49
Gallic flair – Middlesbrough’s
retail and leisure market has gone
from strength to strength over the
past couple of years, with new
restaurants including Bistrot Pierre.
“Throughout 2017,
footfall data has
showed that the city
experienced growth in
numbers of shoppers
despite the national
trend being negative.”
A
thriving consumer sector continues to
help Middlesbrough cement its place
as the city heart of the Tees Valley.
The influential UK Powerhouse report
names Middlesbrough as one of the best
performing in the UK, ahead of nearby
centres and above other cities up and down
the UK.
The quarterly report – produced by
solicitors Irwin Mitchell in partnership with
the Centre for Economics and Business
Research – tracks economic growth across
the UK and provides predictions for key
business sectors.
In the latest edition, the consumer sector –
which covers retail, leisure, tourism and food
and drink – was shown to be a vital factor in
driving and sustaining economic growth.
Middlesbrough’s vibrant and diverse city
centre economy stands out as one of the
UK’s star performers in a series of measures
comparing the fortunes of more than 40
cities.
In the face of digital and technological
change, changing consumer behaviour,
uncertainty over Brexit and the impact
of new regulation, Middlesbrough is
consistently near the top of league tables
gauging the health of this key sector.
In the last financial quarter of 2017,
Middlesbrough’s consumer sector growth
was the second highest recorded, only
slightly behind best performer Bristol.
Middlesbrough also recorded strong
employment growth, with the report
predicting a further rise by the end of 2018.
In addition, the town’s consumer sector
growth by the end of 2018 is forecast to
once again be one of the strongest in the
UK.
Victoria Brackett, CEO of Irwin Mitchell’s
Business Legal Services, said: “Our latest
report paints a rosy picture for the consumer
sector within Middlesbrough, with its current
fortunes and short-term prospects looking
very positive.
“While there could be various factors
around this performance, it is worth noting
that throughout 2017, footfall data has
showed that the city experienced growth in
numbers of shoppers despite the national
trend being negative.”
Middlesbrough’s retail and leisure market
has gone from strength to strength over the
past couple of years, from the raft of new
independent bars, restaurants, cafes and
shops to the recent openings of big brands
like Caribbean restaurant Turtle Bay and
luxury fashion retailer Flannels.
This latest UK Powerhouse report shows
Middlesbrough’s resilience and is a sign
of even better things to come, despite
a difficult climate across the UK in the
consumer sector.
Among those tapping into the upbeat
mood are newcomers such as Bistrot
Pierre which opened to rave reviews last
September, creating around 50 new jobs.
The Gallic-influenced eaterie – a stone’s
throw from the newly refurbished Town
Hall and overlooking Centre Square – has
proved a popular addition to Middlesbrough’s
burgeoning restaurant scene, and Bistrot
Pierre founder director Rob Beacham is
confident the best is yet to come.
He said: “Coming to Middlesbrough was
quite a big leap of faith, but our experience
to date has been very positive.
“The council officers responsible for
economic growth are incredibly passionate
about the city, and fully recognise the drivers
that promote corporate development and
regeneration.
“We’ve done pretty well so far – we’re
looking forward to a busy autumn, and I
expect things to pick up further as the new
Town Hall schedule gets up to speed.
“Our strategy has been to find places
where people need us as opposed to the
places where we ‘should’ go – longevity is
one of our core values, and we are here for
the long haul.”
Kevin Parkes, Middlesbrough Council’s
executive director of growth and place, said:
“The UK Powerhouse report is the latest
in a string of positive announcements for
Middlesbrough, building on our listing among
the top ten small cities in Europe for foreign
direct investment strategy by The Financial
Times, and the recent Tech Nation report
which celebrated our buoyant digital sector.
“Not only do these accolades position
Middlesbrough as an attractive place to
invest on a national scale, they paint a
positive future for the town and its peo ple.
“The investment strategy we launched
in 2017 clearly outlines our ambition for
city-scale investment and firmly positions
Middlesbrough as the city centre of the Tees
Valley.
“This latest report is a positive sign that
our strategy is already seeing results, and
I’m confident that continued developments
in the city centre, such as the Centre Square
office development, will only strengthen our
performance in the key consumer sector.”
To read the full Consumer Powerhouse report,
visit www.irwinmitchell.com/ukpowerhouse/consumer
To find out more about Middlesbrough’s investment plans,
including the Investment Prospectus and upcoming developments,
visit www.investmiddlesbrough.co.uk