The West Midlands has consolidated its position as the UK’s leading regional destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). This will be of interest across the Shropshire border, particularly to those investment planning in Oswestry, Shrewsbury and Telford.
The latest official data from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) shows that 130 FDI projects arrived in the West Midlands over the 2024/25 financial year, a figure that represents 9.4% of the UK’s cumulative FDI wins – and more than Wales and Northern Ireland combined. Overall, the region performed strongly in new employment, with over 5,821 jobs created by foreign investors.
A number of inward investment projects were secured over this period. Defence manufacturer NMS UK announced it would be adding 150 new jobs to its Leamington Spa facility, while retailer Harvey Norman confirmed its new headquarters in Birmingham. Elsewhere, Canadian cybersecurity company, Goldilock, expanded its presence at the University of Wolverhampton Science Park.
West Midlands Mayor, Richard Parker, said his office was prioritising economic growth in the area ahead of an investment summit with central government later in the year, aimed at securing more global investment and government Industrial Strategy support for the area’s Regional Growth Plan.
For his part, West Midlands Growth Company CEO Neil Rami said the latest FDI figures reaffirmed the region’s status as the country’s strongest region outside London, in the face of strong macroeconomic headwinds. He added that the resilience of the region was testament to a targeted investment strategy, and deep commitment to sector infrastructure and related skills.
