Member Article

Sheffield LEP among top for foreign investment potential

The Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has placed fifth in a ranking of foreign investment potential.

The Financial Times assessment put the City Region ahead of most other “core cities” including Manchester, Nottingham and Birmingham.

LEP chairman, James Newman said, “The LEP is committed to an inward investment strategy which will stimulate economic growth and create long-term employment.

“Whilst I was surprised to see the LEP didn’t take the top spot in this league table, our relatively high rank reflects the strength of collaboration between the private and public sector and the importance of this to attracting overseas investment.

“Sheffield City Region has very compelling offer to foreign investors. Our recently established Inward Investment Team is working hard to capitalise on the strength of this offer.”

Cities were assessed under six categories, including economic potential; skills and education, cost effectiveness; quality of life; infrastructure; business friendliness; and promotion strategy.

David Grey MBE, LEP Board Member and Group Managing Director of Sheffield-based manufacturing group OSL Group Holdings Ltd, said: “It is clear that that our City Region can offer an unbeatable package to foreign investors and that makes the work of fine-tuning our sales proposition and targeting our communications more important than ever.

“The LEP’s highly skilled Inward Investment team is now in place and is taking on the challenge of ensuring that we exploit our strengths. The value of this team’s role is vital to the LEP achieving its vision of economic growth for the City Region.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .