London has the highest level of productivity in the UK by a significant margin thanks to its high concentration of high-tech and high value-added businesses, graduates and other highly skilled individuals, alongside high calibre infrastructure. However there is a polarisation of living standards across London’s boroughs and the top 10% of London firms are up to three times more productive than the bottom 10%. Many areas in the South East have also experienced productivity growth surpassing the UK’s overall average. This is counterbalanced by areas outside of the capital’s commuter belt, particularly in the South West, which have relatively low levels of productivity.
