Investment location experts visit Birmingham to assess its potential
THE world’s leading experts on investment locations are visiting Birmingham to learn about the city’s investment potential.
Ten site selectors from the US and Europe are taking part in one of the biggest visits of its kind to a European city. The delegates, who advise the world’s biggest companies where they should locate, are learning what Birmingham can offer their clients.
Organised by inward investment programme Business Birmingham, the trip focuses on the city’s key selling points – from its quality of living to its world-class manufacturing expertise. The visit includes a tour of Jaguar Land Rover’s flagship Solihull site, which is creating 1,700 new jobs.
Kathy Mussio, managing partner at Atlas Insight, a site selection firm based on the US, said: “Birmingham has real potential for the global companies we advise, especially in the financial services, insurance and back office space. I wanted to see Birmingham first hand because it has a compelling inward investment story and a good value proposition as a lower cost London alternative. I am also interested in learning more about the city’s other growth sectors.
“This week’s announcement from Jaguar Land Rover demonstrates that this is a growing business destination and a place to watch.”
Business and civic leaders from across Birmingham will be meeting the delegates throughout the visit. Sir Albert Bore, Leader of Birmingham City Council, welcomed them to the city at the new Library of Birmingham. They were joined by 25 senior business figures at an evening reception.
The site selectors were updated on sectors where Birmingham excels, including advanced engineering, with law firm Squire Sanders providing an overview of the industry. The city’s emerging life sciences sector will also be a key focus for the trip. Delegates will be visiting University Hospitals Birmingham and the University of Birmingham to learn more about areas including clinical research and training – while Calthorpe Estates will present a blueprint for the new Edgbaston Medical Quarter.
Trips to the city’s latest schemes will include Two Snow Hill and a tour of Longbridge hosted by developer St Modwen. Argent has briefed the site selectors on its £450m makeover of Paradise Circus, a flagship site that will replace the city’s old library.
In addition to tours of the new Library and Aston Villa Football Club, they are being treated to a private viewing of the Staffordshire Hoard, the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon metalwork ever found, at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
This is the second year running that a group of site selectors have been invited to Birmingham. It builds on a year of success, with Birmingham attracting a 52% increase in inward investment projects during 2012/13 against a 4% rise nationally.
Wouter Schuitemaker, Investment Director at Business Birmingham, said: “While the figures must stack up in deciding where to locate, business leaders must also believe that they are making the right decision based on the culture and ecosystem of a city. This visit is an incredibly important way to win over the experts who advise large investors – experiencing Birmingham for themselves will help them understand what a great destination it is.
“The site selectors’ interest in Birmingham is testament to its international relevance as an investment hub. We plan to build on this profile to make the city even more popular with overseas businesses.”
The visit ends on Friday with Business Birmingham hosting a panel debate about inward investment as part of the European Trade Study Group conference.
