Cardiff Business Partnership

Wales inward investment: Cardiff Business School report’s concern over decline

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:36:00 +0000

BBC article post FDI Report publication

Business report seen as blueprint for Wales to build investment plan

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:31:50 +0000

Rhodri Evans rticle in Western Mail post FDI Report publication

Inward investment failure needs urgent action, warns Cardiff Business School report

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:29:26 +0000

Sion Barry article in Western Mail post FDI Report publication

Cardiff Business Partnership statement on FDI report

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:01:28 +0000

Cardiff Business Partnership today unveiled a report commissioned and undertaken by Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University which demonstrated the need for Wales to be more competitive in terms of inward investment and for Wales to work together in positioning the country for future investment.

The Report outlines the roles of agencies in attracting inward investment and recommends closer working between agencies in Wales; a need for key messages to be clear on the positioning of Wales; more efficient use of resources; and a need to change approach. The Report recommends:

Development of a Stronger Welsh Brand.
Improved remit for individual agencies.
Consistency in policy beyond target sectors and improvement in responses to enquiries.

Chairman of Cardiff Business Partnership Adrian Clark said:

“Attracting Investment into Wales continues to be essential and selling Wales should be a team effort. Cardiff is a shop window but other Cities also play a big part. The Report brings together a number of strands. It is not all good news but it is important to that this Report is a line in the sand. We must support everyone from Government to a small indigenous business supplying a multi – national.”

Mr Clark added:

“Inward Investment is even more competitive that it was in the 1990’s .Wales has talent to compete and we should realise that the Report is there for all of us to see and may not make good reading but Wales must take further steps to develop trade and investment and position itself further in international terms.”

Cardiff Business Partnership confirmed that it had met and had productive discussions with the Business Minister Edwina Hart . The Cardiff Business Partnership commended Dr Andrew Crawley *of Cardiff Business School for the Report

Roy J Thomas Director of the Cardiff Business Partnership said:

“We need to look forward. There is a consensus of opinion that we all need to work together. The Welsh Government has made decisions since the election in May last year – Business Enterprise Zones across Wales, progressive focused work on sectors and the recent office announcement in London. With others perhaps more interested in constitutional issues now is the time we should compete and look to other major trading countries and work hard on a programme of internationalisation. London is a major hub and the South East and Manchester on our doorstep but Wales can and should look further to North America and Asia.”

Mr Thomas added:

“This is not only about Cardiff or inward investment – it about how Wales is perceived in international terms. It is not about indigenous versus inward investment or private versus public sector or north versus south. It is not only government or local authorities that have a duty to talk ourselves up but every citizen who wants to see Wales prosper.”

Dr Andrew Crawley of Cardiff Business School appointed research fellow of Cardiff Business Partnership on 1st February 2011 said:

“The study was unique in FDI research as it focused on those involved in carrying out the job. The report highlights the importance of coordinated activity. Within Wales today there are significant numbers of organisations tasked with bringing inward investment. We need to get those agencies working closer together to ensure a consistent message is being sent to the business world, that is that Wales is open for business.”

*The Report was overseen and managed by Dr Andrew Crawley of Cardiff Business School – Contact Laura Davies Director of External Relations Cardiff Business School t: +44 (0)29 2087 5132 e:DaviesLE5@cf.ac.uk

Please click here to download the report.

Conference told capital must drive region’s economy forward

admin — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:58:01 +0000

Article written for the Echo relating to a recent conference in Cardiff Bay.

Conference exploring the importance of Cardiff to the Welsh economy will be held next week

admin — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 15:48:23 +0000

Details regarding a Conference that explores the importance of Cardiff to the Welsh economy published in the Western Mail.

A greater Great Western Main Line

admin — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 13:52:30 +0000

Article prepared for Rail Technology Magazine re: impact of HS2 on Wales and need for GWML upgrade

The train now running from Paddington to Pontypridd is the future of the Valleys

admin — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:44:23 +0000

“Pontypridd/Paddington Express” article (prepared with Owen Smith MP) published in Western Mail

‘Competitiveness reliant on a thriving capital’

admin — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:57:39 +0000

Roy Thomas, the director of the Cardiff Business Partnership, argues the Central Business District will help the Welsh capital compete in a global marketplace for employers

Investment shows future competitiveness and Capital ready for growth

admin — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:06:02 +0000

The Cardiff Business Partnership welcomed the investment in the Financial Services District and highlighted that Cardiff’s competitiveness has helped it to generate some 50,000 jobs for the Welsh economy for the period 1998-2010. That’s almost three quarters of the total jobs growth for South East Wales. These jobs have benefited the whole City region.

The announcement confirmed the importance of Cardiff to the City Region for those travelling into Cardiff and the Partnership confirmed that the announcement was an investment for the region and not only the centre of Cardiff.

Adrian Clark of Legal & General and Chairman of Cardiff Business Partnership said:

“The Cardiff Business Partnership welcome investment in the regeneration of Capital Square as it it is the landing platform and gateway when you arrive from London on the train. A vibrant economy must embrace infrastructure investment to create the modern environment such as exists in other major European Cities.”

He added:

“Clearly, with announcements like this demonstrates that the Capital is important to Wales and sets a visionary agenda as such an investment provides long term aspirations and careers for young people who want to stay in Wales and build a progressive economy. We cannot afford to stand still and we must continue build on the foundations to create a world class city.”

Roy J Thomas founder Director of Cardiff Business Partnership said:

“The Financial Services sector employs over 30,000 people in Cardiff bringing more of these types of jobs aids the strength of our Capital and builds on the success of our member companies such as Legal & General, Admiral and the Principality Building Society who employ from staff from across South Wales. But we need to more competitive in our selling of Cardiff.”

He added said:

“The Cardiff Business Partnership is committed to maintaining and developing Cardiff’s position as a leading city, not just in the UK context but worldwide. We’ve seen the city successfully navigate the hangover of deindustrialisation to become a modern knowledge-based economy in recent years, but we need to make sure we can make that next step. In a worldwide context we consistently see cities such as Copenhagen, Helsinki and Zurich figure prominently in competitiveness and quality of life leagues, and there is no reason why Cardiff should not also be featuring and continue to be the engine and shop window of economic growth for Wales.”

Contact Roy J Thomas on 07767 586 939. Or royjthomas@publictrustpartnership.co.uk