Regional growth figures released for Q1 2015

The North East top the table as the fastest growing Government Office Region in England and Wales in Q1. Activity in the region expanded by 0.5% compared with Q4 2014, comparing favourably with the UK's 0.4%. Sectors that shone include financial services, energy supply and chemical manufacturing. All outpaced the UK average. Particular hot spots include Darlington and Tyneside, whose economies grew annually by 3.3% and 2.8% respectively.

A step-up in the pace of economic expansion saw the region's unemployment rate fall sharply. It has fallen by 2.5 percentage points over the last year, to 7.5%. Above the national average yes, but a significant achievement nonetheless. Sunderland deserves a medal as it's unemployment rate has dropped from 13.7% in 2013 to .8.3% in 2014, a fall of 5.4 percentage points. Only Leicester has seen a steeper drop.

View from the region

It is great news to see the North East leading the way for Q1 growth, and especially good news to see a further fall in the region’s unemployment rate. 

Economic expansion continues with the strong focus on exports bringing new revenues and jobs to the region. We expect a further boost from the recently launched transatlantic flights from Newcastle International Airport which will not only bring people to the area but will serve as another channel for cargo export. Generally we are seeing confidence continue to grow with results inevitably to follow.

Jason Heywood, Regional Director

We estimate that the North West’s economy was one of the two fastest growing regions in the UK, alongside the North East. Growth of 0.5%q/q was driven primarily by wholesale & retail, information & communications technology and the region’s manufacturing base, in particular chemicals and basic metals manufacturing. The region also benefitted from a lower reliance on financial services, a sector which suffered in Q1.

On our estimates, the fastest growing part of the North West were East Merseyside and East Cheshire, which grew by an estimated 3.5%y/y and 3.4%y/y. Retail and business services were the big drivers of growth, with manufacturing providing support. On our estimates, both regions are also relatively competitive against their peers, which we also include as a factor that boosted growth. The welcome result of all this growth for East Cheshire is that the unemployment rate has fallen twice as fast as the North West average over the last year and now sits at 3.5%.

View from the region 

It is great to see such strong results in the North West, with growth in the regions equalling that in London. This comes as little surprise given the strength of business performance we are seeing across our the full range of our portfolios. M&A activity continues to be strong, indicating business confidence remains high, whilst retailers are benefiting from buoyant consumer markets. This is leading to an increase in customers looking for new bank and loan facilities as they gear up for both organic and inorganic growth. Overall we expect to see these growth trends continue with the stable economic environment and current good investment conditions set to prevail for remainder of the year.

Steve Lewis, Regional Director

On our estimates, Yorkshire & the Humber’s economic growth was slightly slower than the UK’s growth of 0.4%q/q. Wholesale and retail led the way, but growth came from a diverse set of sectors including ICT, health, chemicals manufacturing and utilities outside of water and sewerage. The region also benefitted from its relatively lower reliance on financial services, a sector which suffered in Q1.

We estimate that the fastest growing part of Yorkshire & The Humber was Wakefield, growing by an estimated 3.3%y/y.

View from the region

There is a growing optimism and confidence in the region but I wouldn't call it unbridled. The unpredictable outcome of the General Election, along with continuing uncertainty in the eurozone means that a lot of people I speak to have been keeping a watching brief. We now have a budget to come in July which is another milestone that will be monitored carefully in Yorkshire and right across the UK. The cranes are back in our cities and that brings a certain feel good factor and breeds confidence. On our part, our lending is up and the feedback we are getting from customers on the service they are receiving is also improving. There's no talk about banks not being open for business and there is a regular demand for both asset finance and invoice finance from Yorkshire's businesses. The sectors I'm seeing doing particularly well are automotive and leisure and that points to disposable income returning to people's pockets. Nevertheless the businesses I speak to are finding it difficult to find the skilled workers they need and that remains the biggest challenge to SMEs.

Liam Kane, Regional Director

We estimate that the East Midlands economy grew by 0.4%q/q in the first quarter of the year, placing it among the middle of its regional peers. The region’s growth was broad-based, coming from sectors as diverse as wholesale & retail, leisure, ICT, real estate and manufacturing sectors like basic metals and clothing.

The fastest growing part of the region was Derby, which we estimate grew by 3.7%y/y. This was driven by manufacturing, business services, retail & leisure and also the region’s competitiveness relative to its peer group, for which we make an adjustment. As one might expect, the unemployment rate in the region has also fallen and fallen fast, from 8.9% in 2013 to 7.7% by the end of 2014.

View from the region

The news from the East Midlands remains positive, with continued positive growth and business confidence across the majority of sectors. The Chamber of Commerce's Q1 economic survey reflected this with upticks in growth and profitability expectations. George Osborne recently visited Derby and described the broader Midlands as the Engine of UK growth. 

The only notable exception is manufacturing. Whilst many firms continue to experience positive conditions and growth, those exporting to the Eurozone have found challenges over recent months due to the increased strength of the pound against the Euro. 

Recruitment has continued to build, with many businesses citing a shortage of skills as a challenge and potential or real barrier to growth. Whilst this is prevalent in professional services firms, they have continued to enjoy very strong growth again on the back of improved economic activity.

Adrian Fern, Regional Director

A slightly slower quarter for the West Midlands. We estimate that the region’s economy grew by 0.3%q/q, placing it towards the lower end of the pack. While sectors like wholesale & retail, basic metals manufacturing and ICT did well, the other sectors of the region’s economy were unable to grow fast enough to push up the overall economic performance.

That said, there were some strong economic performances within the region. We estimate that Herefordshire’s economy was the fast growing in the West Midlands, with output up by 3.9%y/y, a very healthy performance. And others, like Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Shropshire did well too. And while unemployment rates have come down a lot over the past year, in some places they remain stubbornly high. Birmingham’s unemployment rate is still above 10%, something we hope that further economic growth will be able to remedy.

View from the region

The West Midlands has seen strong levels of inward investment and a healthy number of start-ups, which is positive news for the region’s economy. Fundamentally we are in a good position; market conditions are good, confidence is up and we are seeing an increase in requests for lending to fund investment and expansion.In particular, we are experiencing a buoyant agricultural sector in Staffordshire, Shropshire and Herefordshire; whilst the leisure sector is delivering growth, leading to increased visitor numbers to the area. The strength and depth of representation in the manufacturing, automotive and advanced engineering sectors is stimulating supply chain activity across the region.

Andy Mitchell, Regional Director

A relatively poor performance from the East of England economy saw it in last place in the regional rankings for economic growth in Q1. Activity in the region grew by just 0.2%, compared with the UK average of 0.4%. Nothing particularly stands out as contributing to the weakness.

This performance jars with news that the region also contains some of the country's fastest growing local area economies and has some of the lowest unemployment of anywhere in the UK. Places like Central Bedfordshire for example, where just 3.5% of the labour force are looking for work, one of the lowest unemployment rates in the UK. Or Cambridgeshire, whose economy grew by 4.0% in the year to Q1. That's over a percentage point faster than the UK's post war average.

View from the region

2015 has started well in the East with the majority of our customers reporting an improvement in business confidence and outlook. Some projects slowed temporarily in the lead up to the General Election and whilst attention will turn to the question of the UK’s relationship with Europe there appears to be a general up turn in business. Accessing a skilled labour force is becoming an increasing issue for many businesses in the East and with customers telling us that access to finance is not a barrier to growing their businesses. We stand ready to support our customers in the agricultural sector which has seen incomes fall with the downturn in commodity prices, alongside the opportunities which exist in this sector. We are also seeing a modest increase in the number of corporate finance transactions both in terms of company purchases and sales across a range of sectors.

John Cox, Regional Director

In the pack. By our estimates, the Welsh economy grew by 0.4%q/q in the first quarter of the year, the same as the UK average. Wholesale & retail, leisure and ICT were the three leading sectors, with social care and basic metals manufacturing also making important contributions. 

We estimate that Flintshire & Wrexham and the Isle of Anglesey were the fastest growing Welsh regions, both expanding by 2.7%y/y and 2.8%y/y in Q1. In the Isle of Anglesey, growth was firmly led by the retail & leisure sectors, while in Flintshire & Wrexham, growth was a little more broad based and also included manufacturing. This has been reflected in falling unemployment rates in both regions, but in particular in the Isle of Anglesey where the rate of unemployment has fallen by 3.1 percentage points over a year, much faster than the UK average.

View from the region

“The period of uncertainty presented by the General Election is now behind us and the consistent policy agenda has offered reassurance to large and small business, providing a stable platform upon which to base investment decisions.

“Our lending book across Wales continues to grow across traditional lending products, including asset and invoice finance. In addition, we are also receiving more enquiries from start ups and also early stage businesses seeking our specialist advice and guidance. I am really looking forward to opening our Cardiff incubator hub in conjunction with Entrepreneurial Spark in early 2016 – this will complement existing support networks for the business community across south east Wales.

“Since the end of Q1 we have seen particular confidence and increased activity across most key sectors including construction, manufacturing, leisure and agriculture.

“Overall our customers are upbeat and optimistic about the future, encouraged also by good news offered by some major infrastructure projects and the associated supply chain opportunities they will present in the future.”

Barry Evans, Regional Director

By our estimates, the South West’s economy was to be found in the middle of the pack in Q1. Growth of 0.3%q/q was slightly below the UK average. Like the rest of the UK, the recovery was led by the wholesale & retail sector, but the South West did relatively well in its traditionally strong real estate and leisure sectors as well. Growth would have been even faster, but for the region’s relatively small ICT sector, a part of the UK economy that grew well in Q1.

Top of the regional charts on our estimates was Bath, which found itself among the fastest growing regions in the UK. Growth was broad based across wholesale & retail, business services and ICT. However it was the region’s inherent competitiveness which provided the main boost. On our estimates, Bath is one of the most competitive regions of the UK and we have adjusted our growth figure accordingly. And at just 4.4% in the year to December, it also has one of the lowest rates of unemployment.

View from the region

Once again the South West Region continues to deliver a balanced performance across the majority of sectors, however we have seen a marked improvement in the leisure sector and we expect this trend to continue as we move further into 2015.

Confidence levels are returning to the market as we move through the year. There is definitely a more upbeat feel in our local economies and we are working closely with them to understand their ambitions and how we can work in partnership with them to bring new insight and solutions to the table. A good example is agriculture which has the potential for income diversification. We’re finding the farming community is now far more receptive to new ideas on broadening income streams or managing their energy costs via green/ renewable energy.

As a consequence of the renewed confidence businesses are now revisiting their investment strategies and whether it is borrowing to fund increased capital expenditure, new acquisitions, higher levels of working capital or maybe the purchase of new premises, there is an appreciation that there is a need to invest in their respective business and the do nothing strategy is no longer an option.

Simon Godfrey, Regional Director

We estimate the south east's economy grew by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2015, slightly slower than the UK. This scores the region a mid-table finish. Longer term, the region's economy looks well placed to perform well. It out-played the UK average in important value-add sectors like information and communication technology plus financial services.

Within the region, Milton Keynes again stole the show. Output in this increasingly important city rose by 4.7%y/y, securing it the accolade of the second fastest of all the UK's local areas behind inner London East. Other areas whose economies are growing rapidly include Hampshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire, each of whose economies are at least 3% larger than in Q1 2014. That's in stark and unwelcome contrast to Southampton, whose economy managed to eke out growth of just 0.2% over the year to March.

View from the region

We are pleased to be seeing strong levels of appetite from our customers in the South East to borrow from us. Whereas this time last year there was a feeling of cautiousness around the economy and the upcoming general election, now we’re seeing increased levels of confidence.

Whatever your political allegiance, the general election has at least provided continuity and as a result we’re seeing customers interested in borrowing from us to fund increased capital expenditure, new acquisitions or higher levels of working capital.

Daryl Gayler, Regional Director

One of the better performing regions again. According to our estimates, the Capital grew by 0.4%q/q in the first quarter, surpassed only by the North East and the North West. While London suffered disproportionately from a weak quarter for financial services, its ICT, retail and wholesale and leisure sectors combined to more than make up for it.

Once again, Inner East London found itself at the top of the UK growth pile. Driven primarily by its large business services sector and regional competitiveness, we estimate that the region grew by 5.4%y/y. Contrast this with Outer South London, an area including places like Croydon and Kingston, which on our estimates grew by 2.0%. The good news, though, is that unemployment rates fell in all London regions, ranging from a 2.5 percentage point fall in Inner East London, to a 0.2 percentage point fall in Outer South London.

View from the region

It's great to see that London is one of the top performing regions once again. This certainly reflects the increase in investment activity that we're seeing right across our customer base. Leisure, Technology Media and Telecoms, Retail and Recruitment all continue to be high performing sectors and we're seeing increased confidence across all of them and more willingness to invest.

We're seeing wholesalers looking to go into retail, for example, and retailers looking to grow overseas, expanding into new overseas markets. Private equity firms are also keener than ever to invest in London's growth - taking advantage of London's fast-growing technology, media and telecoms industry, for example. Compared to where we were this time last year there is a marked increase in confidence, and with the election now behind us we expect to see that continue.

Roger Fenwick, Regional Director

The Scottish Government reported that growth in Scotland at the end of last year was 0.6%q/q, which would have placed Scotland slightly below the average of the UK regional pack on our estimates. Nowcasting Scotland has estimated that growth in the first quarter of this year was also 0.5%, which would make Scotland the fastest growing UK region. Our estimates for the end of last year suggest that Inverness was Scotland’s fastest growing regional economy, expanding by 4%y/y, which would place it among the fastest growing UK areas.

View from the region

Despite the obvious challenges within the oil and gas sector the Scottish economy continues to perform well. We are continuing to see growth in line with the UK however particular areas of strength are the service sector, retail and wholesaling.

Undoubtedly the oil and gas downturn has impacted markedly however it is a very resilient sector which has learned to trade through economic cycles and we are still continuing to see good lending opportunities as some businesses take the opportunity to take advantage of the greater value in the acquisition market.

Overall our customers continue to have a positive outlook and many are taking advantage of favourable funding rates to meet their expansion and growth strategies. This has allowed the Scottish balance sheet to increase over H1 which is a trend, on a look forward basis, that is expected to continue in the next 6 months of the year.

Mark Gall, Regional Director