Inward investment
The West Midlands is home to around 2,300 foreign companies from over 40 countries which employ around 250,000 people - around one fifth of our region's workforce.
Major international names such as ICICI, Sega, Protomold, UPS, TK Maxx, CSC, Cap Gemini, Mahindra, Airbus and Tata have all recently chosen to invest and create jobs in our region. They join companies such as Fujitsu, IBM, Oracle, Muller Diaries and many others who have already chosen the West Midlands as their base.
Given the international economy in which we live, encouraging foreign companies to invest in the West Midlands is a key priority.
The role of Advantage West Midlands in attracting inward investment
Advantage West Midlands manages inward investment activity for the West Midlands with a range of regional, national and international partners.
Our investment activities promote the many distinctive and internationally competitive features that make the West Midlands such an attractive proposition to investors, these include:
central UK location with excellent road and rail access to the whole of the UK and to many mainland European locations
high calibre, well-trained staff in many sectors
leading universities working in collaboration with industry
major cost advantages in comparison with London and the south-east
Advantage West Midlands focuses on the sectors which offer the greatest opportunities for overseas investors and in which the West Midlands has particular strengths. These sectors include Automotive, Aerospace, Building Technologies, ICT, Medical Technologies, Food and Drink, Business and Professional Services and Environmental Technologies.
Advantage West Midlands’ inward investment team is responsible for all lead generation and client project management activity. While every investment project is unique, the areas of assistance generally includes:
land and property searches on behalf of clients
help with staff recruitment and training
outlining financial assistance and business support that is available
assistance in developing collaborations with research and development in our universities and the private sector
market and socio-economic data on the West Midlands
arranging tours and visits to our region
Contacts
| Richard Butler | Head of Inward Investment | richardbutler@advantagewm.co.uk
T: +44(0)121 380 3633 |
| Alan Roden | International Business Manager - Services | alanroden@advantagewm.co.uk
T: +44(0)121 380 3635 |
| Robbie Beak | International Investment Manager (Medical, Financial Business Professional Services and Information and Communications Technology) | robbiebeak@advantagewm.co.uk
T: +44(0)121 503 3322
Mobile: +44(0)7919 887 517 |
| Jane Holmes | International Investment Manager (Services, Information and Communications Technology, Medical and Financial Business Professional Services) | janeholmes@advantagewm.co.uk
T: +44(0)121 503 3260
Mobile: +44(0)7917 630 563 |
| Tom Marchbanks | International Investment Manager (China Action Plan) | tommarchbanks@advantagewm.co.uk T: +44 (0)121 380 3671 Mobile:+44(0) 7525 703171 |
| David Fisken | International Business Manager - Advanced Engineering | davidfisken@advantagewm.co.uk
T: +44(0)121 380 3634 |
| Mark Shaw | International Investment Manager (Building Technologies) | markshaw@advantagewm.co.uk
T: +44(0)121 503 3494
Mobile: +44(0)7917 475 595 |
| Owen Hillis | International Investment Manager (Advanced Engineering) | owenhillis@advantagewm.co.uk
T: +44(0)121 503 3529
Mobile: +44(0)7917 475 858 |
| Ian Mason | International Investment Manager (Environmental Technologies and India Action Plan) | ianmason@advantagewm.co.uk
T: +44(0)121 503 3375
Mobile: +44(0)7891 645 940 |
| James Warren | International Business Manager - Knowledge and Communications | jameswarren@advantagewm.co.uk
T: +44(0)121 503 3241 |
| Richard England | International Investment Manager (Knowledge and Communications) | richardengland@advantagewm.co.uk
T: +44(0)121 380 3639
Mobile: +44(0)7879 600 778 |
| Nalini Panvalkar | Inward Investment Market Executive | nalinipanvalkar@advantagewm.co.uk T: +44(0)121 503 3374 Mobile: +44(0)7795 442 484 |
Advantage West Midlands overseas
Advantage West Midlands is also responsible for a comprehensive network of overseas offices that operate in key markets.
Contact details for our overseas offices are as follows:
North America
Asia Pacific
Europe
