Outstanding results for Thames Valley Foreign Direct Investment

The Thames Valley has delivered another set of impressive inward investment results during the 2017/18 financial year. High volume and investment value has ensured it retains its status as the number one region, outside of London, for securing foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United Kingdom.

In the third annual Thames Valley Inward Investment Results report, produced by the Chamber in conjunction with the region’s Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) 191 FDI projects, including multi-regional projects, were recorded entering the region in 2017/18 – a staggering increase of 40% compared to the previous year:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • Berkshire attracted 81 projects, of which 10 were multi-regional – the highest level ever recorded and, for the first time, exceeding the LEP’s Strategic Economic Plan target (80)
                        • Buckinghamshire saw a 50% increase, with 16 projects, including four multi-regional
                        • Oxfordshire gained 93 projects plus five multi-regional – the highest ever number of recorded for the region
                        • Largest number of investments came from the United States, with 54 projects in total, including 40 from the East Coast
                        • Financial, Professional and Business Services sector secured 75 investment projects, followed by Information Technology, Electronics & Communication (48); Advanced Engineering & Manufacturing (35) and Life Sciences & Healthcare (25)
                        • 3,394 new and safeguarded jobs, including 2,637 newly created positions, of which 892 were in Life Sciences & Healthcare companies
                        • 42% of projects were deemed high value (outside of Retail and Food Drink)

                        Paul Britton, CEO at the Chamber commented: “Our results are clear, unequivocal evidence that the Thames Valley continues to drive the economic growth and prosperity of the country. We are the UK’s true turbo economy; an international community that welcomes new businesses, whilst encouraging our resident companies to grow through trade and investment.”

                        • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Bill Gornall-King, President of the Chamber further added: “The Thames Valley is a tried and tested destination for FDI and our role, working alongside the LEPs, is to help ensure we remain one of the UK’s and indeed, Europe’s, most successful regions. We encourage Government to continue committing to ongoing investment plans through the delivery of major infrastructure projects, such as the Western Rail Link to Heathrow, and to maintain the momentum behind delivering the third runway at London Heathrow.”

                                                                              The Chamber works with business, LEPs and the Department for International Trade’s Investment Services Team (IST) across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire to provide inward investment support and services to both established and new foreign-owned companies looking to set up and grow their business in the Thames Valley.

                                                                            • • • • • Read the full report here.