Berkshire: Thames Valley Berkshire LEP welcomes UKTI figures on foreign investment

The Thames Valley Berkshire sub-region remains the most successful location in the UK at attracting foreign investment outside of London, according to new figures released by UK Trade & Investment.

The 2012/13 Inward Investment Annual Report recorded 56 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects, a rise on the 47 recorded in 2011/12. Of the recorded investment projects within the area, defined by the geography of the Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), over 80% were either expansions (42%) or new investments (38%). 18 projects were new investors and 41 were by existing Berkshire-based (re-) investors, cementing the sub region’s position as a high-value location for investment.

Steve Lamb, chairman of Thames Valley Berkshire LEP comments, “While foreign investment into Europe fell by more than 40% last year, Thames Valley Berkshire has bucked the trend with job and project numbers rising significantly. 2011/12 saw the creation of 743 jobs, however 1,523 new jobs were created and 942 were kept safe in 2012/13.

“Inward investment has been given an extra boost in Thames Valley Berkshire this month with the announcement that SEGRO plc has sold IQ Winnersh for £245.1 million to a joint venture between Oaktree Capital Management LP and Patrizia AG. Our strategy remains to promote Thames Valley Berkshire as the best place live and work, and we will continue to demonstrate the sub-region’s existing and growing strengths to new investors.”