MARKETING BIRMINGHAM
INWARD INVESTMENT
2015 & BEYOND
Birmingham is making things happen. At a time when the power of regional cities is dominating the headlines Birmingham is showing that it has the economic backing to compete globally as well as nationally.
Birmingham never stops evolving. Powered by the innovative spirit of its people, Birmingham has always pushed forward.
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT INTO THE BIRMINGHAM AREA IS AT A RECORD HIGH
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2014
2015 marks a next step in the landscape and development of the city, as it builds its position as a leading global destination.
VISITOR ECONOMY More people than ever are being drawn to Birmingham. From our world class culture to family attractions; foodie havens to shops galore, Birmingham is fast becoming a premier visitor destination – with more in store for 2015 and beyond. GROWING GLOBALLY
RE TAIL
There were more foreign investment projects in the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP (GBSLEP) area last year than any other English region. The number of FDI – foreign direct investment – projects in the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP area increased by 57%, to 77 projects, which trumped the 37 other regions.
• Grand Central Birmingham opens, flagship John Lewis store
With direct flights to India and China, as well as an increase in the number of daily flights to the UK, Birmingham is becoming easier to reach for global passengers. Building on growing interest in the city’s offering, global marketing and sales initiatives to boost our profile further, the city is reaping swift rewards.
including the
• £150 million integrated leisure complex, Resorts World Birmingham opens • £20 million refurbishment of Selfridges department store at Bullring
INCREASING INVESTMENT IS SECURING JOBS AND TALENT The region also created the most jobs – a total of 4,841 – a 98% increase on the previous year, compared to 3,350 from its nearest challenger. Business Birmingham led on 37 projects in Birmingham itself, creating 2,815 new jobs last year. Birmingham is now also the top choice for those relocating out of the capital. Almost 5,500 people moved to Birmingham from the London area last year.
OUR RESULTS ARE BRINGING RECOGNITION
VISITOR NUMBERS ARE AT A RECORD HIGH
• £50 million redevelopment completed at leisure and retail destination The Mailbox
Birmingham attracted a record 34 million visitors in 2013, contributing £5.34 billion to the local economy – an increase of 12% since 2006. The increased visitor numbers helped create 2,100 jobs over the last year, boosting the number supported in the city’s visitor economy to more than 63,500 jobs in the local workforce.
SPORT • Rugby World Cup 2015 matches Villa Park
to be held at
• England v Australia: Ashes Test Match Cricket at Edgbaston Stadium
INTERNATIONAL VISITOR NUMBERS ARE ON THE RISE Birmingham attracted more international visits last year than ever before. There were almost one million visits to the city last year – an increase of more than 225,000 on the previous year.
CONNECTED •B irmingham New Street Station redevelopment completed
Named as the UK’s most entrepreneurial city outside of London, the FDI Destination of the Future by industry leading FDI Magazine, listed in the top three ‘Best to Invest’ locations in Western Europe, and the most attractive UK regional city for quality of life – our work to make the region one of the most attractive places in the world to do business is building momentum.
£600 million
With numbers rising by a third in the last year alone, Birmingham’s growth in attracting visitors is higher than any other city in the UK.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! • Birmingham Royal Ballet 25th anniversary
celebrates its
Hotel occupancy rates in Birmingham also reached an 82% average in September 2014 – the highest since records began in 2003.
• 300th anniversary of Birmingham Cathedral
RECENT INVESTORS INCLUDE: • EXTRA ENERGY – Established its headquarters in the city with plans to create up to 1,000 local jobs over the next 12 months • HYDRAFORCE – Invested in a new factory at Birmingham’s Advanced Manufacturing Hub. Job numbers at the company will almost double by 2018 • DEUTSCHE BANK – Continued its investment to become the largest foreign owned financial services company in the city, employing more than 1,000 and plans to double staff levels in the near future
for
• Cadbury World celebrates its 25th birthday
THE BIRMINGHAM EXPERIENCE
• Birmingham’s iconic Rotunda building, which now includes 5-star apartment company Staying Cool, celebrates its 50th anniversary
For a second consecutive year, Birmingham was named the ‘Best UK Destination to Visit’ by readers of Group Leisure magazine, the country’s leading publication for group travel organisers.
• Mixed-use development Brindleyplace celebrates its 20th anniversary
The city also maintained its position as the UK’s most popular conference and events destination outside London in the sixth annual British Meetings & Events Industry Survey 2014/15 (BMEIS).
Want to talk? Feel free to get in touch. T: +44 (0)121 202 5022 E: info@marketingbirmingham.com W: marketingbirmingham.com Join in the conversation #Makingithappen
business_bham
businessbirmingham.com
BusinessBirmingham
To download a digital version of this brochure please log onto www.marketingbirmingham.com
visit_bham
www.marketingbirmingham.com
visitbirmingham.com
MarketingBirmingham
MORE FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT PROJECTS
THAN ANY OTHER
BIRMINGHAM
ENGLISH REGION
RANKED TOP UK
4,337
MAJOR INVESTMENT
PROJECTS
NEW JOBS
FIVE HUNDRED
BUSINESSES
SUPPORTED
FROM FDI MORE THAN ANY OTHER
REGION
REGIONAL CITY FOR
QUALITY OF LIFE
VISITORS
FOOD DRINK
SECTOR
INTERNATIONAL
EMPLOYMENT
BIRMINGHAM THE LOCATION FOR
HS2 CONSTRUCTION HQ
AND COLLEGE
COMPARED WITH 4% NATIONALLY
34
WEST MIDLANDS
2013/14
ACCOUNTS FOR
EMPLOYMENT
BY 87%
THE UK’S MOST
2815 JOBS
REGIONAL CITY
37 PROJECTS
80% EXPORTS OF AUTO
TARGETS EXCEEDED
ENTREPRENEURIAL
TO CHINA
MILLION VISITORS
TOP THREE MOST VISITED PLACES TO SHOP
30,000 BED SPACES… AND GROWING