Thousands of new jobs will be brought to the West of England over the next few years as firms are attracted by its growing reputation as a tech, creative and financial services hub, according to inward investment chiefs.
Over the past year a record 1,800 jobs have been created in the region by inward investors – more than double the 886 achieved in the 2014/15 period. 
It is also well above the target of 950 set for Invest Bristol & Bath, the agency responsible for promoting the region as a business location.
The prospect of Brexit also does not appear to have harmed the reputation of the region as a forward-looking business hub with 300 jobs created since the EU referendum result at the end of June.
Among business setting up operations in the West of England over the past year are major US social network company Strava, pictured, which moved its European headquarters from London to Bristol; Singapore-based Procorre, which recently opened a base in Bristol’sTemple Quarter Enterprise Zone; and DesAcc, a leading US owned ICT company specialising in medical data, based at Temple Quay.
Invest Bristol & Bath was responsible for attracting more than two thirds of the companies setting up in the region over the past year.
Its head of inward investment, Matt Cross, said “Results show that the West of England continues to be the place to do business – we have broadened our reach with world markets to cement our position as a leading destination in the UK for investment.
“Looking forward, we have a strong pipeline of inward investment activity, with interest from a European based consultancy firm with the potential to generate 100 new jobs; a major US-based tech company creating a further 120 new jobs; and a leading financial institute that could generate 250 new jobs for the region. 
“All in all, the conversations we are having with companies looking to invest in the region could result in the creation of an additional 6,000 new jobs over the coming years.”
Some 1,400 of the 1,800 jobs brought in over the past were from foreign investors in the region – a reflection of its growing reputation as an international tech location.
A number of surveys over recent years have positioned the West of England as the UK’s most productive and fastest-growing digital tech clusters, earning it serious momentum in attracting innovative new businesses and people.
Since its inception in 2013, Invest Bristol & Bath has played a crucial role in promoting the region on the national and international stages and has attracted 110 companies creating almost 3,000 jobs and contributing almost £200m to the regional economy.
Other major firms to move to the region in previous years include Chinese telecoms equipment giant Huawei, which is setting up an R&D centre; American supercomputer giant Cray, which opened its new European, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) headquarters; and fast-growing online takeaway food business Just Eat, which has has set up a specialist technology centre.
The latest job creation figures come off the back of government figures released this week by the Department for International Trade (formerly UKTI) showing more than 2,200 inward investment successes for the UK this year, an increase of 11% from the previous period.
The UK remains the most popular destination in the EU for overseas firms, with the US the largest source of inward investment for both the UK and the West of England.
