New campaign launched to attract international investment
The West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC) has launched It Starts Here, a new campaign to boost the region’s global image and attract international investment.
Announced at Birmingham Tech Week, the campaign aims to position the West Midlands as a hub of innovation, where “disruptive minds meet” and “breakthroughs begin.”
The campaign seeks to draw investment from markets such as India, North America and Germany, creating jobs across the region.
Neil Rami, chief executive at the West Midlands Growth Company, said: “International competition for investment is fierce; with global investors citing access to innovation capabilities as their number one priority. In response to this, we’ve developed a campaign that asserts our past and present ingenuity distinctly and compellingly – and that speaks to all corners of our region.
“Emerging technologies are developing rapidly in the West Midlands. It is the golden thread of our economy, with the tech sector now valued at £15.3bn and growing. We are therefore incredibly well-placed to partner with organisations worldwide to drive pioneering technologies, thanks to our talented people and cutting-edge university-led R&D.
“Inward investment is fundamentally about growth and job creation, but we must have clarity and conviction in our strengths to obtain it. And so, I’m inviting organisations from across the West Midlands to work with us, and come together to confidently convey that It Starts Here.”
A key milestone will be a trade mission to India in early 2025, led by West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker.
Recent data shows that the West Midlands saw a 72% increase in foreign direct investment in 2023, with Birmingham leading the way, securing 67 new projects—more than any other UK city outside London.
Parker said: “The West Midlands has always been the home of entrepreneurs and inventors. Now, we’re fast becoming a powerhouse for new sectors like clean and green industries, cyber security, and cutting-edge tech. There has never been a better time for businesses to invest, grow, and succeed here in the West Midlands. I want us to grasp this opportunity to become the best place in the UK to do business, creating new jobs, new opportunities, and improving thousands of lives across the region.”
