Centre for Cities

Profile

Centre for Cities is the leading think tank dedicated to improving the economies of the UK’s largest cities and towns.

Our mission

The UK’s economy is driven by the success of its largest cities and towns, which generate opportunities and prosperity for people in all parts of the country.

Our mission is to help the UK’s largest cities and towns realise their economic potential.

We produce rigorous, data-driven research and policy ideas to help cities, large towns and Government address the challenges and opportunities they face – from boosting productivity and wages to preparing for the changing world of work.

We also work closely with urban leaders, Whitehall and business to ensure our work is relevant, accessible and of practical use to cities, large towns and policy makers.

In partnership with LSE, we run the What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth, which analyses which policies are most effective in supporting and increasing local economic growth.

The Centre was first established in March 2005 as a team within the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). Following a successful initial phase at IPPR, the Centre became an independent company in April 2007. It is a registered charity (No. 1119841) and a company limited by guarantee (No. 6215397).

Why cities matter – Cities don’t follow the national economy, they are the national economy. If the economy is to prosper, then the UK’s largest cities and towns must be at the heart of economic policy-making.

Partnerships – Partnerships are a vital part of our work to improve the performance of city and town economies.