Collection

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

Email enquiries@invest-trade.uk

Contact form https://invest.great.g...

Telephone +44 (0)207 000 9012

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

Reasons to expand a business to the UK

Why more overseas companies set up in the UK than anywhere else in Europe.

1. Why overseas companies should set up in the UK
   • 19 February 2017
   • Promotional material

UK industry sectors

Guides on industries in the UK including opportunities for investment.

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

• Advanced manufacturing
• Aerospace
• Asset management
• Automotive
• Creative
• Energy generation
• Financial technology
• Food and drink manufacturing
• Nuclear
• Offshore wind
• Oil and gas
• Retail

We welcome your feedback about these new-look guides.

1. Agri-tech in the UK: investment opportunities
   • 16 March 2016
   • Promotional material
2. Communications industry in the UK: investment opportunities
   • 20 February 2014
   • Guidance
3. Electronics and IT Hardware in the UK: investment opportunities
   • 20 February 2014
   • Guidance
4. Information Communications Technology (ICT) in the UK: investment opportunities
   • 19 February 2014
   • Guidance
5. Guide to Islamic finance in the UK
   • 27 October 2014
   • Guidance
6. Marine energy in the UK: investment opportunities
   • 26 February 2014
   • Promotional material
7. Rail industry guide for overseas investors
   • 14 April 2014
   • Promotional material
8. Science and Innovation in the UK: commercial benefits
   • 26 March 2014
   • Guidance
9. Space technology in the UK: investment opportunities
   • 7 April 2014
   • Guidance
10. Waste Management in the UK: investment opportunities
    • 19 February 2014
    • Guidance

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
   • 4 July 2018
   • Guidance

Investor stories

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

1. ProsFit takes great strides into the UK
   • 15 May 2015
   • Case study
2. GetTaxi expands its UK business with help from UK government
   • 13 February 2015
   • Case study
3. New base for Canadian company in London
   • 7 January 2015
   • Case study
4. Cloud Imperium Games invests £15 million in its UK studio
   • 15 January 2016
   • Case study
5. Australian skateboards cruising into Europe
   • 29 September 2015
   • Case study

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
   • 6 September 2016
   • Corporate report
2. UKTI Inward Investment Report 2014 to 2015
   • 17 June 2015
   • Corporate report
3. UKTI inward investment report 2013-2014
   • 18 July 2014
   • Corporate report
4. Inward investment report 2012/13
   • 24 July 2013
   • Corporate report

Published 7 April 2015
Last updated 17 July 2018 + show all updates

1. 17 July 2018 Changed sub-heading and updated new video - see 'Welcome to a land alive with opportunity'
2. 14 February 2017 Added links to new investment sector pages on great.gov.uk for advanced manufacturing, aerospace, food and drink, and retail.
3. 18 November 2016 Added links to the new investment sector guides on www.GREAT.gov.uk
4. 7 April 2015 First published.