What do cities like Plymouth, Newport, Coventry, Wakefield and Sunderland have in common? Quite a lot. The UK’s mid-sized cities face very similar challenges of how to reinvigorate their post-industrial economies and improve the life chances of some of the UK’s poorest communities residing within their boundaries. But mid-sized cities also represent some of the most innovative and dynamic places in the country, with many of these cities leading the way on developing the next generation technologies that are the beating heart of the Government’s Industrial Strategy.

The 20 mid-sized cities that form the Key Cities have launched a report to make the case that the UK Government must work more closely and effectively with them in order to resolve the UK’s three biggest social and economic challenges.