Further written evidence from UK Trade
and Investment
FDI PROJECT—ANNOUNCEMENT
OF SUCCESSFUL
BIDDER FOR
NEW NATIONAL
CONTRACTOR
Mark Prisk, the Minister of State for Business &
Enterprise, wrote to the Chair in early December highlighting
that the procurement for the new national FDI contractor was about
to start. I am pleased to tell you that this process has now finished.
UKTI today announced that PA Consulting Services Ltd in partnership
with OCO Consulting and the British Chambers of Commerce has been
successful in winning the contract to, as part of UKTI's global
network:
- Coordinate and manage the delivery of FDI support
for the United Kingdom with prospective foreign direct investors,
working with local partners across England, the devolved administrations
of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Greater London Authority,
and the UKTI and wider FDI network.
- Provide a geographically dispersed resource to
support the delivery arm for England (outside London).
- Provide direct relationship management and investor
development, in association with international, national and local
stakeholders to nominated existing investors in England (outside
London) as agreed with UKTI.
The transition to PA Consulting has now begun with
the view to them fully taking on responsibility for the above
functions as early as possible in the 2011-12 Financial Year.
BACKGROUND
Last year Ministers announced the decision to abolish,
by March 2012, the eight Regional Development Agencies (RDAs)
outside London, and separately the Mayor of London has announced
the abolition of the London Development Agency. Ministers have
also announced that responsibility for inward investment will
move to the national level, to UKTI.
The new inward investment framework will deliver
focussed countrywide support for inward investors. It will be
a vital part of improving the experience for companies wishing
to invest in the UK. The new arrangements will provide expert
advice for every business sector. The new framework will be considerably
more cost effective.
UKTI recognises the important role that local enterprise
partnerships (LEPs) will have to play in support of FDI promotion.
We have invited LEPs to meet us to discuss these new arrangements
and how we will work together. The British Chambers of Commerce
is heavily involved and will provide important local knowledge
that will benefit inward investors, as well as providing strong
links into LEPs. Staff will be based in PA Consulting's extensive
network of existing offices and will also have access to certain
Chamber of Commerce offices throughout the country.
Martin Cook
Director, Regions
4 April 2011
| 
