This factsheet shows how Aldershot compares to the five most similar European cities in size and industrial structure. These are: Europ’ Essonne (Massy) (France), Almere (Netherlands), Sophia-Antipolis (Antibes) (France), Osnabrück (Germany), ‘s-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands)

Comparing cities in this way helps us to understand more about how well UK cities are competing on an international scale because it groups cities with similar industrial structures, rather than on their resulting economic performance. The factsheet also compares the relative strengths and weaknesses of Aldershot to its European counterparts on variables such as skills, employment and productivity.

City group characteristics

Aldershot is a small city, although among the largest in its particular group. Across all comparators the business and other private services sectors play a large role in their economies.

Population

Industrial structure

Key

• Manufacturing, mining and utilities 2011
• Business services 2011
• Public services 2011
• Other private services 2011
• Other sectors 2011

Overall economic performance

Aldershot tends to rank in the middle of its group on most indicators, but has the lowest number of businesses and the highest proportion of low skilled people. However, it does have a relative high employment rate.