The 1970's, the strikes, the depression of the car and manufacturing industry. This city has suffered. Then, slowly at first, the mourning of bygone times changed to a yearning for action. With it's new economic strategy now in place the whole of the West Midlands is awakening and attracting the inward investment it so desperately needed. Now the most successful region for attracting inward investment it has a host of successful ventures behind it. It is moving from strength to strength. It's vision for the future?........

The West Midlands will be a region at the heart of everything.

Central Location

Home of the NEC one of Europe's largest exhibition centres attracting 42% of the UK's conference business, central to the UK road network with easy access to all parts of the UK, International Airport and global perspective, the West Midlands has much to offer.

The West Midlands is already home to nearly 2000 overseas companies from over 30 countries. It is still a manufacturing region with nearly 20,000 manufacturing companies. World class manufacturing and state of the art technology are one of the reasons behind its recent success story.

Some facts.......

West Midlands is home to;

18 of the top 20 global automotive suppliers (64 of the top 100)
26 of the top 30 global automotive plastics suppliers
6 of the top 10 software companies
workforce of over 2.4 million
34,000 graduates per year
the fastest growing airport in the UK
75% of the country within access by truck within half a day

Some facts.......

The most important sectors for the economy of the region are;

• Automotive
  
• Plastics and Rubber Processing
  
• Software Industry
  
• Food and Drink Industry
  
• Electronics and Telecommunications
  
• Financial and Business Services

  The home of modern industry, the west midlands boasts first class reputation Universities, research associations and Europe's largest electronics organisation (DERA). If you would like more information on the economic sectors of the West Midlands then please visit the WMDA web site.

  Birmingham now has the largest professional and financial sector outside of London. Recognised and voted best region for relocation the West Midlands is top of the list of desirable business locations among CBI delegates. It is a city of international status, A city that has adapted to change and no longer totally reliant on manufacturing and industrial means for it's survival. It is a centre of excellence for today's modern business. World renowned names like Cadbury, Rover, jaguar, LDV, Lucas, GKN and Metro Cammell are joined by NEC, Marconi, Hitachi, Peugeot, Fujitsu, AT&T, Siemens, Epson and Tatung and home grown national call centres are setting up in the region. BT's new prestigious offices in Brindley Place demonstrate the commitment to the region.

  Job creation and skills recognition

  USA clothing giant GAP Inc are moving to an 80 acre site and building two warehouses and offices in recognition of the West Midlands region and the skills of the local workforce. Last year no less than 92 inward investment projects were realised creating 5,500 new jobs. Thousands more opportunities are being created as a result of the massive regeneration programme of the city in its leisure and retail sector. Germany features predominantly in this investment and nearly one third of German investment in the UK over the last 3 years has been in the West Midlands. Germany's investment alone has created 51,000 new jobs and £884 million of investment. There are now around 350 German companies in the West Midlands region taking second place only to North American based business.