Counting projects can be a spurious way of showing the value
of inward investment activities, with far too many non-projects (M&As or
JVs) and one-person sales offices included. So it’s refreshing to be able to
shout about six inward investments announced in the first few weeks of 2010,
that are truly transformational and will each make a significant difference to
the lives of people in each area.
When we seek inward investment, it’s these kinds of wins
that we’re looking for:
- Manchester – After a highly competitive site selection process, Trafford
Park has been chosen as the location for Europe’s largest data scanning centre,
creating 1,300 new jobs.
- Wales - Swansea has been chosen by Toyoda Gosei for the
biggest Japanese investment in Wales for nearly 20 years. The automotive
components firm is to create 600 jobs.
- Grimsby - The Daniels Group, who produce chilled foods like New Covent Garden Soup, has announced an £8.5 million investment and the creation of 200 new jobs in 'Europe's Food Town'.
- Wales - 200 new jobs are to be created at the former
L'Oreal factory in South Wales. French company Fillcare, which took over the
plant last summer, is investing £7m at the site.
- Scotland - Credit and debt recovery firm, Mackenzie Hall,
has said it is to double its workforce at its Kilmarnock call centre with the
creation of 100 new jobs.
- Blackburn - Gosselin, the French manufacturer of laboratory consumables, will
establish a base in Blackburn, Lancashire creating 37 new jobs. It will look to
use the UK to extend its market share in Northern Europe.
Let’s hope that these are the first of many transformational projects this
year.
