At this year's MIPIM event in Cannes, France, fDi spoke to the leaders of five major UK cities – London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leicester and Bristol – to hear about their strategies for promoting their cities to global investors.

A network of businesses is springing up in Newcastle and the north-east of England, catering to the demands of the offshore oil and gas industry. But can the region overcome perceived supply chain shortcomings while addressing a dearth of skilled labour? 

A series of regeneration projects have helped revitalise the UK county of Kent, with cultural institutions drawing a large stream of visitors and a science park attracting world-class businesses.

The reputation of European companies when it comes to new medical technologies and the continent's attractive regulatory environment is increasingly causing venture capitalists from the US to steer their investments across the Atlantic.

The rising price of labour is one reason for the decline in automotive manufacturing in the UK in recent years, but this has not stopped Japanese car manufacturer Toyota from increasing its operations in the country. UK deputy managing director Tony Walker explains why such labour costs should not stop the UK from being a successful car producing country.

Derby was one of the key cities in the UK during the Industrial Revolution, and that spirit has remained as it has set itself as one of the country's hubs for high-tech industries such as automotives and gaming.

fDi Magazine tasked a team of investment analysts and experts to assess the performance of the UK's local enterprise partnerships since they replaced the regional development agencies. The results were mixed, with a general feeling that the LEPs still have a lot to learn.