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Foreign business investment is driving high value jobs in Plymouth

Plymouth based companies are attracting millions of pounds of foreign investment creating and securing quality jobs, with more investments on the horizon.

Statistics collated by the Council’s Economic Development team show that across the last five years, £332m worth of foreign investment – mainly from American parent companies – came to city businesses, across 33 projects.

All together the investment helped secure 1,460 new jobs.

The pipeline for next year looks promising with 23 projects worth £5m and the creation of 8,000 jobs on the cards, of which 3,500 a high-value graduate jobs, of which 74% will come from the marine sector.

Council Leader Richard Bingley said: “Foreign investment in Plymouth is booming. We made it a firm commitment to open Plymouth to global business and drive more high-value jobs to the city. I agree with the recent news, Plymouth should not be underestimated.

“Despite the pandemic and the aftershock on the global economy, we are making sure that we are grabbing opportunities that come our way.

“A typical investment project can take a few years to land as companies will keep a close eye on macroeconomics and the global market place before making a final decision. These huge investments are made by global companies who have faith in the knowledge, skills and technology that we can create here in Plymouth.”

Recent major investments in the city, have included:

  • Meta/Plessey £120m (US FDI)
  • Amazon £10m (US FDI)
  • Barden £8m (German FDI)
  • Becton Dickinson £70m + (US FDI)
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      David Ralph

      Chief Executive

      David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

      Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

      David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.