York Flying High

The UK’s top city for good growth celebrates 5 years as a Good Business Charter city

Following York City’s promotion to the Football League, York continues its year of celebration as it marks a milestone of five years maintaining the accolade of Good Business Charter city.

Five years on, City of York Council, University of York, large York employer Aviva, and Joseph Rowntree Foundation continue to uphold the Good Business Charter’s ten components of responsible business behaviour which include paying the real living wage, paying suppliers on time, caring for their workforce, customers and the planet. They do so alongside a range of small and medium businesses in the city.

Over the past five years this community of responsible organisations have been joined by York St John University, Boxxe Ltd and more recently York College and the Merchant Adventurer’s in taking a stand for good business.

Chief Executive of the Good Business Charter, Jenny Herrera, said:

“We want to congratulate the city on this achievement. For me it is no coincidence that PwC named York as the top UK city for good growth last September. Responsible business behaviour makes good business sense and will lead to happier workers, customers and community and correlates too with the Sunday Times’ recent recognition of it as one of the UK’s Best Places to Live.”

Against a backdrop of economic challenges, it is notable that York is seeing high growth potential in a number of businesses, lower-than-average levels of business distress and growth spread across multiple sectors.

York’s status as a GBC city chimes with the findings of a report the University of York published into the Good Business Charter in November 2024, recognising that it empowers businesses to align with social and environmental responsibilities while staying competitive, demonstrating that sustainable growth and profitability can go hand in hand.

Professor Kiran Trehan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise, Partnerships and Engagement, said:

“Five years ago, York made a promise about the kind of city it wanted to be, today’s milestone proves it kept that promise. Our research into the Good Business Charter, published in 2024, found something simple but easy to forget: fair pay, fair treatment of suppliers, and care for people and the planet aren’t a tax on growth, they’re the engine of it. We see this every day in our partnerships across the city, every business we work alongside, every graduate who chooses to stay and build a future here, is proof of that. York’s status as the UK’s top city for good growth didn’t happen alongside its Good Business Charter status. It happened because of it.”

Councillor Claire Douglas, Leader of City of York Council said:

“As a city we have a long history of businesses working to improve society, and we were proud to be the first Good Business Charter City. Over the past five years it has been great to see York firms of all sizes make that commitment too and feel the positive impact it can have. Good Business Charter accreditation brings significant benefits to our residents, by boosting pay and ensuring better working conditions. For businesses too it can make a real difference, including helping them to retain good staff and grow their business.

“As an employer we are proud to have Good Business Charter accreditation, making a commitment not only to our staff but to our suppliers, customers and also to the environment. On top of being a Good Business Charter City, York has been named one of the most dynamic locations in the country and the best place in the country for good growth. We are ambitious for the future, keen to deliver more well-paid, sustainable jobs and to grow our economy.”