Influencing Foreign Direct Investment
10 March 2009
Since 1999, SEEDA has assisted 444 foreign companies to set up, retain or expand their operation in the region. At the time of investment, these companies forecasted to create or safeguard 23,470 jobs over the forthcoming 3 years.
Examples of companies we have helped attract to the South East include:
- Merrill Lynch – SEEDA’s representative on the US East Coast made initial contact with the banking giants, and we went on to assist them in the establishment of their European Technology centre in Camberley, Surrey. SEEDA helped the company overcome barriers to investment, working with the local authority to help obtain planning permission to rebuild offices and to introduce a local travel plan. SEEDA also supported Merrill Lynch in targeted local recruitment exercises by sharing data on the location of appropriate skills, and through initiating introductions to other local employers to share best practice and ideas. The company has confirmed that the investment has created 240 jobs in Camberley.
- Boeing – SEEDA worked with Boeing and UKTI to influence the company’s recent decision to establish a new product development simulation laboratory on the QinetiQ campus at Farnborough. Strong competition from three other UK regions as well as one other European location was countered by SEEDA, by providing introductions to key companies through the SEEDA-funded Farnborough Aerospace Consortia. Boeing has estimated that the operation will create around 100 jobs over the next 3 years.
- Palmer Johnson - SEEDA identified Palmer Johnson, the US super-yacht manufacturer, as a potential investor in the Solent and secured their operation in the region, beating rival bids from France, Turkey and Dubai. SEEDA outlined the advantages of the South East region in a proposal to Palmer Johnson, providing detailed information on location options and relevant skills availability, and introductions were made to the local Learning and Skills Council. The investment is estimated to create over 800 jobs in the area.
For more information please contact our press office
Tel: 01483 470155
