England’s RDAs help 43,000 jobs to be created or safeguarded by inward investors
National figures recently released for the year 2009/10, show that RDAs in England have once again played a vital role in helping jobs to be created and safeguarded by investment in the country by overseas businesses.
The RDAs, working in conjunction with other investment bodies, were responsible for landing more than half of the 1,404 inward investment projects in England in 2009/10. These projects created or safeguarded over 43,000 jobs, up almost 20% from last year.
About a third of all inward investment projects that involved the support of Government agencies were down solely to the efforts of the RDAs, with 23,000 associated jobs being created or safeguarded as a direct result of this work.
Speaking on behalf of England’s RDAs, Jeff Moore, Chief Executive of East Midlands Development Agency (emda), which has the lead role amongst RDAs for International Investment, said: “Regional Development Agencies have always had a key part to play in attracting inward investment to the UK, and this was the case once again last year.
“The RDAs have a wealth of expertise, accumulated over many years, in generating investment leads and converting them into investment on the ground, and have long-established relationships with investors who are already here, which is used to retain and expand existing investment in the UK.
“Whatever mechanisms are put in place to promote economic growth in the future, it is absolutely essential that this capacity is not lost to the UK and that there is a smooth and effective transition to the new arrangements.”
For further details about the services provided to inward investors by England’s RDAs, contact the RDA National Secretariat on 020 7968 0600, or visit website on www.englandsrdas.com
For more details about this press release, or additional information about the inward investment results, please contact Nick King at East Midlands Development Agency (emda) on 0115 988 8375, or email nickking@emd.org.uk