Land and location making Telford and Wrekin a key target for investment from overseas
Telford and Wrekin is in pole position to attract new foreign investment as the council’s link-up with Harper Adams University and the Department of International Trade attracts global agri-tech businesses.
New research shows record numbers of investors planning to invest in the UK over the next 12 months with the country seen has having Europe’s best Covid recovery plan. And more overseas investors are looking at sites outside of London and the South East.
Locally the Marches area – Herefordshire, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin – recorded 14 new Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) project successes in the last year, with Telford winning four out of the 10 single site schemes and securing nearly half of the 220 new jobs created.
This follows on from the previous year when Telford successfully attracted 60% of the foreign investment in the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership area with six of the 10 single sited projects landing in the town.
Cllr David Wright, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for Economy, Housing, Transport, and Infrastructure, said:
“Our ability to attract new investment from overseas in what have been exceptionally difficult economic conditions, shows our borough’s resilience.
“As always, we have been able to react nimbly and pivot our offer to attract new businesses to our borough; our central location, ready-to-go and affordable land and a great business support offer being cited by investors as the main reasons for our continuing success. We are great at supporting budding entrepreneurs - new research from Tide, places Telford & Wrekin in sixth place in the country for the biggest growth in new start-ups.”
In 2020 the UK was leading Europe in three of the six biggest sectors for FDI projects, namely financial services, digital technology, and agri-food which places Telford in a great position with the development of Ni.PARK, its Agri-Tech business park in Newport.
Telford’s position in the Agri-Tech sector is being further enhanced by FDI investor UPL. This Indian business is the fifth largest crop protection company in the world and a global leader in bio-solutions for sustainable agriculture. It is a global company, with a presence in 138 countries and employs more than 10,000 people. It has 26 research and development facilities worldwide, including a brand new 70 hectare (173 acre) global field-testing station close to Harper Adamas University at Newport, which serves UPL’s North Europe business.
Cllr Wright said: “This FDI is a great new addition to our borough and a result of our collaborative partnership with Harper Adams University and DiT which is helping us attract leading names with new to market Agri-technologies to Telford.”
The annual EY Europe Attractiveness Report states that 41% of investors from their survey are now planning to invest in the UK in the next 12 months and with the UK now ahead of France and Germany in terms of investment appeal, Telford is well positioned to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity.
