Leicester retains top 10 status and is a "city to be reckoned with"

Leicester has retained its status as one of the best cities in the UK in which to live and work, according to latest research.

The 2018 Good Growth for Cities Index ranks Leicester as the 10th best city, ahead of London, Brighton and Plymouth and Midlands neighbours Birmingham, Nottingham and Derby.

The home of DMU was judged on a combination of economic performance and quality of life in the annual report.

This is the third accolade for Leicester in as many months, with the city being named one of the best places to start a business in two reports.

DMU's director of business engagement, Helen Donnellan, described this as a "significant achievement".

She said: "I think this index endorses what we as residents and employers in Leicester recognise - we are a city of influence and a city that is attracting great employers but also encouraging real entrepreneurship.

"This index complements the other recent studies that showed Leicester as number two for start-ups in the UK and a leader in tech start-ups. Leicester is now a city to be reckoned with."

The seventh annual Good Growth for Cities Index - from business consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers and think-tank Demos - measures the performance of 42 of the UK's largest cities against 10 indicators based on the views of the public as to what is key to economic success and wellbeing.

These include employment, health, income and skills - the most important factors, as judged by the public. Housing affordability, commuting times, environmental factors, income inequality and number of new businesses are also included.

Creative Writing master's student Emily Paget thinks the city is great for students.

She said: "You feel part of the community both on campus and when you go into Leicester. There's lots going on to enjoy and get involved in, including great music and comedy scenes."

Leicester is known for its vibrant culture and many landmarks, which attract people from all corners of the world, in addition to its economic development. The city is:

• The best place in the country for tech start-ups, according to the Tech Nation report
• The second best place in the UK to start a business, as ranked in the Start-Up Britain report
• Home to Britain's most multi-cultural high street, Narborough Road, just a stone's throw from the DMU campus
• Recognised for its global cuisine and home of the Leicester Curry Awards
• One of the oldest cities in England, with a history dating back 2,000 years

• A successful sporting city, home to 2015-2016 Premier League champions Leicester City Football Club, and Leicester Tigers, 10 times English rugby union champions. Both clubs have partnerships with DMU, leading to great opportunities for students
• Host to some of the largest multi-cultural events in the East Midlands, such as the annual Caribbean festival, the largest of its kind outside London, and the biggest Diwali celebrations outside of India
• The third most affordable city for students in the UK, according to the NatWest Student Living Index 2018
• The final resting place of King Richard III.