SOUTH Lakeland has been listed as one of the top performing economic areas in the North West according to a‘Vibrant Economy Index’.

The district’s top five ranking in the Grant Thornton Vibrant Economy Index is this week being used to promote the UK as a place to do business at a major international event to attract inward investment.

The index lists areas by economic performance, taking into account factors such as prosperity, dynamism and opportunity and health, wellbeing and happiness, to develop a comprehensive picture of an area’s economic ‘vibrancy’.

In the North West South Lakeland is ranked fifth overall, just ahead of Lancaster in sixth and Manchester in eighth and behind top four performers Cheshire East, Trafford, Cheshire West and Warrington.

The Vibrant Economy Index ratings were used last week at the MIPIM conference, a global property and real estate event in Cannes, France, to attract investors and trade partners from around the world.

The index has been drawn up by Grant Thornton in partnership with the local government magazine the Municipal Journal (MJ) to find a new way of measuring economic wellbeing.

Sarah Williams, manager of Kendal’s Business Improvement District (BID), said: “Of course Kendal BID is encouraged by these statistics as we believe we have had a role to play in it and will continue to push Kendal as a great destination.

“Kendal is one of the top places to live in the UK.

“We are seeing a multitude of great businesses, in different sectors, opening in the town and it’s good to see that the stats are finally filtering through.”

And Councillor Graham Vincent, South Lakeland District Council’s portfolio holder for the Economy, welcomed the index results, saying they provided further evidence of South Lakeland’s strong economy.

Councillor Vincent said: “To be ahead of places like Manchester in a measure of economic vibrancy is quite something, and proves that our business strategies, business support, highly skilled industries, strong communities, low unemployment rate and fantastic quality of life is a winning combination.”