MIDAS exceeds jobs target
INWARD investment agency Midas has released end-of-year figures which showed that the agency exceeded targets again during the 2010-11 financial year, helping to create 3,812 new jobs in Greater Manchester.
The jobs were created through the successful handling of 77 projects – of which 34 were investments made from overseas markets such as the US, Europe, India and North America. The agency said that its work also helped to safeguard a further 1,521 existing jobs, bringing the total created or safeguarded to 4,703.
Among the projects the firm helped to set up during the year included a new call centre for airline Etihad, increased presence by BSkyB at its call centre in Stockport, a new bakery for Fine Lady in east Manchester and a project to bring 100 investment banking jobs to Manchester from Royal Bank of Scotland.
Angie Robinson, chief executive of MIDAS, said: “I’m delighted with the results MIDAS has achieved in 2010-11. Despite a particularly difficult business environment, we have achieved, and indeed exceeded, our targets for the year.
“Looking ahead, MIDAS has set itself ambitious targets for the coming year. The changes to the public sector landscape have seen a national contractor appointed to deliver inward investment UK wide and work with agencies on the ground, such as MIDAS.
“MIDAS will remain the key point of contact for foreign direct investment delivery in Greater Manchester and we are increasing efforts to attract investors into the area.
“There are some very exciting developments being brought forward including MediaCityUK and the Airport City Enterprise Zone which add weight to the local offer and allow MIDAS to work with partners to position Manchester on the global stage.”
The figures for both jobs created and safeguarded were higher than 2009/10, when the agency created 3,609 jobs and safeguarded 1,350.
