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Business investment in the UK: Guidance for overseas businesses

Guidance on why overseas companies should set up and locate their businesses in the UK. Includes information on UK business investment and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) opportunities.

Published 7 April 2015
Last updated 17 July 2018 — see all updates
From:
Department for International Trade

The UK is the number 1 destination for FDI in Europe

Companies choose to expand or move their businesses to the UK because it’s an ideal location. More companies locate their European headquarters in the UK than anywhere else in Europe.

The UK has:

  • people with the talent and right skills
  • a simple and competitive tax rate system
  • a transparent regulatory system making it easier to do business

Visit www.great.gov.uk for your guide to setting up an overseas business in the UK.

Welcome to a land alive with opportunity

Welcome to a land alive with opportunity

Enquiries for overseas companies looking to set up in the UK

Overseas companies can contact the Investment Services Team for information about setting up in the UK including the help that is available.

See separate contacts for investment in Life Sciences, Automotive, Regeneration projects, Financial Services and Offshore Wind

UK industry sectors

Guides on industries in the UK including opportunities for investment.

Visit www.great.gov.uk to see our new guides for:

We welcome your feedback about these new-look guides.

Entrepreneur programmes

Details of programmes by DIT to help entrepreneurs who are based overseas, bring their businesses and ideas to the UK. This includes the Sirius programme for graduate entrepreneurs.

  1. Entrepreneurs setting up in the UK
    • Guidance

Investor stories

Examples of international companies DIT has helped to expand their businesses to the UK.

Annual inward investment reports (2012 to 2016)

These annual reports show inward investment activity in the UK and include the number of foreign direct investment projects.

  1. DIT inward investment results for the tax year 2015 to 2016
    • Corporate report
  2. UKTI Inward Investment Report 2014 to 2015
    • Corporate report
  3. UKTI inward investment report 2013-2014
    • Corporate report
  4. Inward investment report 2012/13
    • Corporate report
Published 7 April 2015
Last updated 17 July 2018 + show all updates
  1. Changed sub-heading and updated new video - see 'Welcome to a land alive with opportunity'
  2. Added links to new investment sector pages on great.gov.uk for advanced manufacturing, aerospace, food and drink, and retail.
  3. Added links to the new investment sector guides on www.GREAT.gov.uk
  4. First published.
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