Centre for Cities

Centre for Cities was established in March 2005 as a team within the Institute for Public Policy Research and became an independent company in April 2007. It is a registered charity based in London and focuses on the economic performance of UK cities and large towns.

The organisation produces research and policy recommendations on productivity, wages, employment, skills, housing, transport, devolution and the changing world of work. Its stated mission is to help the UK’s largest cities and towns realise their economic potential, working with urban leaders, central government and business.

Its flagship Cities Outlook provides an annual assessment of urban Britain using indicators including innovation, housing, skills, employment and productivity. In partnership with LSE, Centre for Cities also runs the What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth, which evaluates the effectiveness of local-growth policies.