Corporate report

Department for International Trade inward investment results 2015 to 2016

Updated 6 September 2016

1. Types of foreign direct investment (FDI)

United Kingdom

Types of investment	2011/12	2012/13	2013/14	2014/15	2015/16	Increase %
New investments	752	777	820	1,058	1,130	7%
Expansions	506	577	677	740	821	11%
Mergers and acquisitions (including joint ventures)	148	205	276	190	262	38%	#
Total	1,406	1,559	1,773	1,988	2,213	11%

2. New projects and jobs

United Kingdom

UK region	Number of FDI projects	Sum of number of new jobs
East Midlands	85	3,678
East of England	116	3,280
England (excluding London)	1,043	39,716
London	889	24,191
North East	77	2,991
North West	151	7,715
Northern Ireland	33	2,068
Scotland	108	4,178
South East	253	5,507
South West	89	2,434
Wales	97	5,443
West Midlands	168	11,119
Yorkshire and the Humber	104	2,992

FDI projects in the UK

New jobs created in the UK

3. Projects and total new and safeguarded jobs by industry

Advanced manufacturing

Energy and infrastructure

Electronics and telecommunications

Life sciences

Creative industries and ICT

Financial and professional services

4. Top source markets for FDI projects

United Kingdom

Source country	FDI projects	New jobs	Safeguarded jobs
Americas
Canada	90	1,740	8,948
United States	570	25,694	3,956
Rest of Americas	61	1,194	756
Asia Pacific
Australia	97	3,156	6
China (including Hong Kong)	156	2,833	3,899
India	140	7,105	344
Japan	115	2,618	5,036
Rest of Asia Pacific	116	2,987	896
Europe
France	116	5,155	1,846
Germany	99	5,291	1,422
Ireland	50	2,075	544
Italy	91	2,477	356
Netherlands	49	2,048	208
Nordic and Baltic region	141	4,520	2,651
Spain	66	2,376	770
Switzerland	50	1,540	430
Rest of Europe, Middle East and Africa	229	10,489	1,261
Total	2,213	115,974	33,324

DIT supported FDI projects: 1,731

5. Department for International Trade can help investors

Whether you are a start-up, a medium-sized or family business, a corporate or an institutional investor, Department for International Trade (DIT) supports the realisation of your international business ambitions.

DIT is recognised as one of the best investment promotion agencies in the world.

DIT offers flexible support packages for every aspect of your investment. Our service doesn’t stop once you are based in the UK - it continues as your business expands internationally. We have helped thousands of businesses locate and expand in the UK.

We listen to their feedback to help strengthen and improve our services.

5.1 Not sure which country is best for your business?

Comparing the benefits of locating in different countries is complicated.

It is our job to explain the business environment in competitor countries. We provide the detailed factual information and market insights that let you draw meaningful conclusions about the UK’s competitiveness.

5.2 Already decided to bring your business to the UK?

We help you set up business quickly and efficiently, saving valuable time and money by guiding you through essential steps such as choosing the right location, finding premises, recruiting staff and connecting with the value chain.

We have specialists covering all the industry sectors, as well as important issues such as visas, taxation, skills, planning permission and financial analysis.

5.3 Already established here, but looking to expand your business?

We can help you develop the relationships that enable expansion in the UK and exports to European and global markets. This could include:

• connecting you with innovation
• support for new products and services
• using our overseas network to increase your exports
• helping you access finance

6. Contact DIT

DIT’s services to international investors in the UK are free of charge and commercial-in-confidence.

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.

Investment staff at a British embassy, high commission or trade office can also put investors in touch with the Investment Services Team.

7. Methodological note on FDI statistics

FDI projects:

DIT and its partners make all reasonable efforts to record and report all eligible FDI projects that meet DIT’s definitions and verification and reporting criteria.

Figures about the recorded FDI projects include those investments which received support from DIT and/or one of its regional and local partners (‘involved’ projects), as well as ‘non-involved’ projects, meaning those projects which have ‘landed’ in the UK without any involvement from DIT or partners.

Various external sources and FDI project and company databases have been used to identify, qualify and report eligible ‘non-involved’ FDI projects.

DIT’s definition of FDI projects covers wider types of investment, including those projects which are not announced by companies. This and other differences in methodology and verification processes explains the difference in the FDI project numbers published by DIT and other organisations, such as FT and EY.

Estimates of jobs and value of investment:

Job figures and investment values included in this report are estimates, made at the start of each investment project. New jobs capture total jobs likely to be created within 3 years from the start of the project. Safeguarded jobs include those jobs which were ‘saved’ as a result of the additional/ new inward investment.

© Crown Copyright 2016

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Published September 2016 by Department for International Trade.