Breaking down England's fiscal devolution plans
David Phillips of the IFS tells LocalGov why England's regional finance reforms are modest by global comparison and what ministers still need to get right.
Investment boosts local employment
A total of 2,500 jobs were created and a further 11,996 safeguarded because of inward investment, according to figures published by Advantage West Midlands.
The regional development agency – which is responsible for working overseas to promote the region and generate investment – was directly involved in projects which saw 1,879 jobs created and 211 safeguarded during the financial year 2006-07.
This means that in the three years since the launch of the West Midlands Regional Marketing Campaign, some 11,364 jobs have been created or safeguarded by Advantage West Midlands, the best three-year series since the agency was established in 1999.
The marketing campaign is aiming to improve perceptions of the region internationally, focusing on the West Midlands’ strengths as a place to do business.
Taxis presenting the message to business people in Paris, Brussels and Gothenburg will soon be appearing as the latest phase of the campaign.
Among the successful projects involving the development agency was the opening of the State Bank of India in Birmingham, which initially created 11 jobs; the opening of the Airbus UK Ltd plant in Bickenhill, Birmingham, creating 220 research and development jobs and the creation of 70 jobs at Sega Europe in Solihull.
