MIDAS hails strong job creation figures
MORE than 3,000 jobs were created in Greater Manchester in 2012-13. according to investment agency MIDAS.
The 16-strong organisation, which after budget cuts is more than half the size it was before the recession, said it had topped it targets for last year, and despite tough international competition for inward investment and is confident of further success.
Chief executive Tim Newns told TheBusinessDesk.com: “We are pleased with the performance – it is very competitive. In a year where London grew its market share on the back of the Olympics and the Jubilee, Manchester maintained its share of global investment into the UK.”
Mr Newns said two recent senior appointments, Daniel Storer, formerly with Rolls-Royce as business development director and Sarah Kemp, formerly with the NWDA, as executive director, would help MIDAS deliver further jobs.
“Our focus for the next year will contiue to eb the US and we also want to develop greater footholds in India and China and other fast-growth markerts.”
In total 3,038 jobs were created across 81 projects in Greater Manchester during 2012-13. In total the number of jobs created, safeguarded and relocated with support from the agency was 4,143, with a GVA (Gross Value Added) impact of £189m.
The ICT and and financial and professional services sectors supplied the highest number of new jobs with a 23% and 19% jobs share respectively.
A large proportion of this year’s investment projects (26%) has stemmed from the media and creative industries, conveying the rapid growth of the media supply chain that has followed the relocation of the BBC and ITV to MediaCityUK, as well as the further development of the Sharp Project.
Milestone projects arriving in the city centre in the last year include California’s EON Reality (bringing 240 jobs), the Bank of East Asia, Polantis, Worldpay, Bright Futures, Healthforia, and Factory Games.
Mr Newns added: ““The countries of origin for many of these projects suggest a healthy appetite for investing in the region, particularly from the US market. Greater Manchester has also seemingly bucked the trend by continuing to attract a high level of European projects.
“The key to continuing this success will be in keeping the spotlight on Greater Manchester’s strengths; namely its knowledge hubs, its scientific achievements, and the rapid growth of the digital sector.
“We’re also keen to push forward with Manchester’s ambitions to increase connectivity with China. The new Manchester China Forum will be essential in helping to boost our capacity to drive investment from this important market and we look forward to establishing similar initiatives in other key markets.”
Bruntwood boss Mike Oglesby, chairman of MIDAS, said: “Although economic times remain challenging these are strong results that continue to show Manchester’s attractiveness as an investment location.”
