Marketing the Thames Gateway as a single unified Region to global inward Investors is one of the key remits of a new Inward Investment unit unveiled at the Thames Gateway Forum today.
Invest Thames Gateway, the new service which is being launched by the 3 Thames Gateway RDAs (SEEDA, EEDA and the LDA) with substantial funding from the Communities and Local Government Department, will be responsible for the marketing and initial enquiry handling for all International Inward Investment into the Thames Gateway.
The new service will ensure all agencies involved in attracting inward investment to the Thames Gateway work together to provide a seamless customer experience.
This launch fulfils a commitment given by the Regional Development Agencies in the Thames Gateway Economic Development Investment Plan (EDIP) which they published earlier this year. The Plan highlighted Inward Investment as a key driver of sustainable prosperity in the Thames Gateway.
Invest Thames Gateway is a commitment by the RDAs and their partners to work together to significantly increase the level of Inward Investment into the area including a coordinated single point of contact for Inward Investment enquiries.
The new service is supported by a new unified Marketing proposition and brand identify, which will help to position the Thames Gateway in global investment markets as a single Region for the first time.
Commenting on the new service, Jeff Alexander, Executive Director of Competitiveness and Growth for SEEDA, who is chairing Invest Thames Gateway on behalf of the three RDAs, said: "We are delighted to be ready to make this announcement today. This has been the culmination of a year's planning and consultation with all the partners who have an interest in attracting Inward Investment into the Thames Gateway. The region has a great offer for potential inward investment and through coordinating both marketing, and the handling of enquiries, this service will help ensure that this potential is fully realised."
Welcoming the renewed commitment of the RDAs to the new Inward Investment service, Thames Gateway Minister Margaret Beckett said:
"We are backing the Thames Gateway's dedicated Inward Investment Service by investing £3 million over the next three years to support this important service.
"In these challenging times it is vital that we take steps to encourage investors to seize the many economic opportunities in the Gateway. By taking a co-ordinated approach to marketing the Thames Gateway as a competitive UK business location we can increase the number of jobs created in the region over the long term."