Memorandum submitted by Neo Products Ltd
I am writing to offer some supportive evidence
and information towards the Select Committee inquiry into the
role of the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in the UK. As
an international business, we would like to point out the value
we have experienced from working with one such RDA, namely Advantage
West Midlands (AWM).
Our involvement with AWM goes back to 1999 when
we were first setting up our initial operations in the UK. We
had just been successful in securing a significant UK government
contract for our touch screen kiosk terminals and we required
a UK assembly facility for this. We were directed to AWM's inward
investment team by Austrade for assistance. AWM then really acted
as a "one-stop-shop" for all our needs in setting up.
They provided direct support in finding us a commercial property
(which we are still in today in Birmingham), they assisted with
introductions to professional services who helped us set up the
company, they brokered introductions to quality local suppliers
we needed to secure the parts for assembly of our kiosks, assisted
with personnel recruitment and even helped with staff training.
Setting up such an operation from such a long way away in Australia
would have been all the more challenging and time-consuming without
AWM's local support.
I am pleased to say our UK and European business
has steadily grown since and we now have a diverse customer base.
The growth in business has led recently to an expansion of the
Birmingham operation in terms of jobs. Once again the support
of AWM has been very valuable in facilitating this expansion,
most noticeably through the efforts of the RDA's local office
in Melbourne. Introductions to supporting organisations and particular
help around work permit issues (involving key personnel for the
expansion project) all helped this expansion take place in Birmingham
from where we have now developed new customers and overseas markets.
As an Australian-based company, we very much
feel at home in the UK from our Birmingham base. AWM's support
in this over the last decade is strongly valued.
I hope this is helpful for the Select Committee
inquiry and if I can be of further assistance, please let me know.
19 September 2008
| 
