The role of Advantage West Midlands in attracting inward investment

Advantage West Midlands manages inward investment activity for the West Midlands with a range of regional, national and international partners.

Our investment activities promote the many distinctive and internationally competitive features that make the West Midlands such an attractive proposition to investors, these include:

  • central UK location with excellent road and rail access to the whole of the UK and to many mainland European locations

  • high calibre, well-trained staff in many sectors

  • leading universities working in collaboration with industry

  • major cost advantages in comparison with London and the south-east

Advantage West Midlands focuses on the sectors which offer the greatest opportunities for overseas investors and in which the West Midlands has particular strengths. These sectors include Automotive, Aerospace, Building Technologies, ICT, Medical Technologies, Food and Drink, Business and Professional Services and Environmental Technologies.

Advantage West Midlands’ inward investment team is responsible for all lead generation and client project management activity. While every investment project is unique, the areas of assistance generally includes:

  • land and property searches on behalf of clients

  • help with staff recruitment and training

  • outlining financial assistance and business support that is available

  • assistance in developing collaborations with research and development in our universities and the private sector

  • market and socio-economic data on the West Midlands

  • arranging tours and visits to our region

Your Advantage West Midlands contact

Richard Butler
Head of Inward Investment
richardbutler@advantagewm.co.uk
T: 0121 380 3633

Alan Roden
International Business Manager
alanroden@advantagewm.co.uk
T: 0121 380 3635

Robbie Beak
International Investment Manager
robbiebeak@advantagewm.co.uk
T: 0121 503 3322

Jane Holmes
Partnerships Manager (Birmingham)
janeholmes@advantagewm.co.uk
T: 0121 503 3260

Tom Marchbanks
International Investment Manager
tommarchbanks@advantagewm.co.uk
T: 0121 380 3671

David Fisken
International Business Manager
davidfisken@advantagewm.co.uk
T: 0121 380 3634

Mark Shaw
International Investment Manager
markshaw@advantagewm.co.uk
T: 0121 503 3494

Owen Hillis
International Investment Manager
owenhillis@advantagewm.co.uk
T: 0121 503 3529

Ian Mason
International Investment Manager
ianmason@advantagewm.co.uk
T: 0121 503 3375

James Warren
International Business Manager Knowledge Base & Communications
jameswarren@advantagewm.co.uk
T: 0121 503 3241

Richard England
International Investment Manager
richardengland@advantagewm.co.uk
T: 0121 380 3639

Nalini Panvalkar
Inward Investment Executive
nalinipanvalkar@advantagewm.co.uk
T: 0121 503 3374