The gap is widening between ‘resurgent’ cities and ‘stuck cities’, according to new research.

The findings, from research consultancy The Work Foundation, show that ‘resurgent’ cities such as Reading, Bristol, Manchester and Newcastle have grown their productivity by 70% over the last decade by attracting higher value businesses and highly skilled people, while ‘stuck cities’ like Hastings, Stoke, Barnsley and Wigan are falling behind.

Alexandra Jones, associate director at The Work Foundation, said: “Some big cities of the UK have clearly bounced back from the decline of manufacturing, and have galvanised themselves to be productive, thriving, 21st-century places.

“But look at the next tier and political alarm ought to set in. The stuck cities of Britain have rising proportions of people in low socio-economic groups and very low rates of employment in better paying professional jobs.”