Press Release
- Wales inward investment: Cardiff Business School report's concern over decline
BBC article post FDI Report publication
- Business report seen as blueprint for Wales to build investment plan
Rhodri Evans rticle in Western Mail post FDI Report publication
- Inward investment failure needs urgent action, warns Cardiff Business School report
Sion Barry article in Western Mail post FDI Report publication
- Cardiff Business Partnership statement on FDI report
Cardiff Business Partnership today unveiled a report commissioned and undertaken by Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University which demonstrated the need for Wales to be more competitive in terms of inward investment and for Wales to work together in positioning the country for future investment.
The Report outlines the roles of agencies in attracting inward investment and recommends closer working between agencies in Wales; a need for key messages to be clear on the positioning of Wales; more efficient use of resources; and a need to change approach. The Report recommends:
- Development of a Stronger Welsh Brand.
- Improved remit for individual agencies.
- Consistency in policy beyond target sectors and improvement in responses to enquiries.
Chairman of Cardiff Business Partnership Adrian Clark said:
“Attracting Investment into Wales continues to be essential and selling Wales should be a team effort. Cardiff is a shop window but other Cities also play a big part. The Report brings together a number of strands. It is not all good news but it is important to that this Report is a line in the sand. We must support everyone from Government to a small indigenous business supplying a multi – national.”
Mr Clark added:
“Inward Investment is even more competitive that it was in the 1990’s .Wales has talent to compete and we should realise that the Report is there for all of us to see and may not make good reading but Wales must take further steps to develop trade and investment and position itself further in international terms.”
Cardiff Business Partnership confirmed that it had met and had productive discussions with the Business Minister Edwina Hart . The Cardiff Business Partnership commended Dr Andrew Crawley *of Cardiff Business School for the Report
Roy J Thomas Director of the Cardiff Business Partnership said:
“We need to look forward. There is a consensus of opinion that we all need to work together. The Welsh Government has made decisions since the election in May last year – Business Enterprise Zones across Wales, progressive focused work on sectors and the recent office announcement in London. With others perhaps more interested in constitutional issues now is the time we should compete and look to other major trading countries and work hard on a programme of internationalisation. London is a major hub and the South East and Manchester on our doorstep but Wales can and should look further to North America and Asia.”
Mr Thomas added:
“This is not only about Cardiff or inward investment – it about how Wales is perceived in international terms. It is not about indigenous versus inward investment or private versus public sector or north versus south. It is not only government or local authorities that have a duty to talk ourselves up but every citizen who wants to see Wales prosper.”
Dr Andrew Crawley of Cardiff Business School appointed research fellow of Cardiff Business Partnership on 1st February 2011 said:
“The study was unique in FDI research as it focused on those involved in carrying out the job. The report highlights the importance of coordinated activity. Within Wales today there are significant numbers of organisations tasked with bringing inward investment. We need to get those agencies working closer together to ensure a consistent message is being sent to the business world, that is that Wales is open for business.”
*The Report was overseen and managed by Dr Andrew Crawley of Cardiff Business School – Contact Laura Davies Director of External Relations Cardiff Business School t: +44 (0)29 2087 5132 e:DaviesLE5@cf.ac.uk
Please click here to download the report.
- Conference told capital must drive region’s economy forward
Article written for the Echo relating to a recent conference in Cardiff Bay.
- Conference exploring the importance of Cardiff to the Welsh economy will be held next week
Details regarding a Conference that explores the importance of Cardiff to the Welsh economy published in the Western Mail.
- A greater Great Western Main Line
Article prepared for Rail Technology Magazine re: impact of HS2 on Wales and need for GWML upgrade
- The train now running from Paddington to Pontypridd is the future of the Valleys
“Pontypridd/Paddington Express” article (prepared with Owen Smith MP) published in Western Mail
- ‘Competitiveness reliant on a thriving capital’
Roy Thomas, the director of the Cardiff Business Partnership, argues the Central Business District will help the Welsh capital compete in a global marketplace for employers
- Investment shows future competitiveness and Capital ready for growth
The Cardiff Business Partnership welcomed the investment in the Financial Services District and highlighted that Cardiff’s competitiveness has helped it to generate some 50,000 jobs for the Welsh economy for the period 1998-2010. That’s almost three quarters of the total jobs growth for South East Wales. These jobs have benefited the whole City region.
The announcement confirmed the importance of Cardiff to the City Region for those travelling into Cardiff and the Partnership confirmed that the announcement was an investment for the region and not only the centre of Cardiff.
Adrian Clark of Legal & General and Chairman of Cardiff Business Partnership said:
“The Cardiff Business Partnership welcome investment in the regeneration of Capital Square as it it is the landing platform and gateway when you arrive from London on the train. A vibrant economy must embrace infrastructure investment to create the modern environment such as exists in other major European Cities.”
He added:
“Clearly, with announcements like this demonstrates that the Capital is important to Wales and sets a visionary agenda as such an investment provides long term aspirations and careers for young people who want to stay in Wales and build a progressive economy. We cannot afford to stand still and we must continue build on the foundations to create a world class city.”
Roy J Thomas founder Director of Cardiff Business Partnership said:
“The Financial Services sector employs over 30,000 people in Cardiff bringing more of these types of jobs aids the strength of our Capital and builds on the success of our member companies such as Legal & General, Admiral and the Principality Building Society who employ from staff from across South Wales. But we need to more competitive in our selling of Cardiff.”
He added said:
“The Cardiff Business Partnership is committed to maintaining and developing Cardiff’s position as a leading city, not just in the UK context but worldwide. We’ve seen the city successfully navigate the hangover of deindustrialisation to become a modern knowledge-based economy in recent years, but we need to make sure we can make that next step. In a worldwide context we consistently see cities such as Copenhagen, Helsinki and Zurich figure prominently in competitiveness and quality of life leagues, and there is no reason why Cardiff should not also be featuring and continue to be the engine and shop window of economic growth for Wales.”
Contact Roy J Thomas on 07767 586 939. Or royjthomas@publictrustpartnership.co.uk
- Electrification must be a catalyst for series of upgrades to rail line
GWML PR piece for the Western Mail
- Electrification could be the start of something positive
Article in Western Mail post GWML Electrification discussion.
- Getting the economy moving needs vision
Cardiff Business Partnership launches new report from influential Partnership, “ Connecting Cardiff, Newport and the Valleys – A Metro for Wales’ Capital City Region”. The Report makes the case for a major and long term investment in rail infrastructure to help promote economic growth and development across the entire South Wales and Cardiff City Region
David Stevens Director of Cardiff Business Partnership and Operations Director of Admiral Insurance PLC said:
“Around the world, the success of city region economies is becoming increasingly dependent on high capacity, high quality, intra and inter regional public transport systems. In response, aspiring city regions such as Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham and Edinburgh are pushing ahead with the development and expansion of modern urban transit systems to boost their economies.”
Mr Stevens added:
“Given the evidence from around the world, the Cardiff Business Partnership believes the delivery of this vision, combined with a coherent economic strategy for the entire Cardiff City Region, will make a significant contribution to improving Wales’ economic fortunes. Consequently, it should be a priority for the governments at both Cardiff and Westminster, and for local authorities and the business community.”
Roy J. Thomas of the Cardiff Business Partnership who helped commission the work by Mark Barry said:
“The Cardiff Business Partnership believes it should be using the electrification of Great Western Main Line as a catalyst, it is time to develop and implement the transport vision set out in this paper. This would enable the Cardiff City Region population travel far more quickly and easily, and also radically enhance the economic connectivity which is essential. Wales should look outward not inward for growth. All economies look to investment from outside look at China and India. We need to get moving and stop the decline of the last ten years to increase GDP Cardiff is essential especially as 100,000 travel to work to the City each day”
For too long, CBP argue, government policies have focussed on addressing the symptoms Wales’s economic malaise. Given Wales’ poor economic performance, a new vision is required. In the report, The CBP make the case for an ambitious and strategic investment that delivers a step change in the provision of public transport for Cardiff, Newport and the Valleys between 2015 and 2025. In the first instance, this will require a Metro combined electrified heavy rail and light rail system to serve the entire Cardiff City Region. The benefits of this major public transport investment will be maximised by also delivering faster rail links to London and Heathrow. So, by 2025 it should be possible to:
- Travel from the Heads of the Valleys to Newport or Cardiff in 40 minutes or less four times and hour
- Travel from Cardiff to London or Heathrow in 80 minutes or less twice an hour
The partnership believe that Wales needs to target fewer but more strategic and impactful projects such as this, if the issue of the poor performance and economic inactivity of the Valleys is to be addressed in any meaningful way.
Given scale of the challenge and drawing on evidence from other leading city regions, the Cardiff Business Partnership believes the delivery of this vision, combined with a coherent economic strategy for the wider city region, will make a significant contribution to improving Wales’ economic fortunes. Consequently, it should be a priority for the governments at both Cardiff and Westminster, and for local authorities and the business community to promote this vision and bring it into reality.
Supporting the publication of this report, the CBP, in association with The Institute of Welsh Affairs and Cardiff & Co are hosting a conference, “End of the Line – Economic regeneration and rail connectivity in southern Wales”, on 10th February 2011, at Cardiff’s City Hall. http://www.iwa.org.uk/en/events/view/118
Contact Roy J Thomas on 07767 586 939. Or royjthomas@publictrustpartnership.co.uk
- South east Wales 'needs £2.5bn metro rail network'
BBC News coverage on the metro rail network for Wales
- Metro vision for Cardiff and Valleys
Rhodri Evans, Western Mail on Cardiff Metro scheme
- Aled Blake: The launch of the Cardiff Business Partnership
Aled Blake of the Western Mail writes about the launch of the Cardiff Business Partnership
- Capital shaping recovery in Wales
The BBC’s Nick Servini’s view on the Cardiff Business Partnership
- The first meeting of the Partnership
The first meeting of the Partnership took place on 23 November 2009 following the call for a strong “business voice” for Cardiff identified by recent PricewaterhouseCoopers research.
“Building on the evident need identified we wish to build on, and compliment, the platforms created by the city. Now is the time to look to the future and make sure that Cardiff can become a premier European city.”
Chairman Adrian Clark“Business in the Welsh Capital needs a distinctive voice and the Cardiff Business Partnership can provide this. In order to do this, we need the drive of the private sector working in partnership with the Council. It is essential to build bridges and facilitate so Cardiff can achieve greater prosperity for the city, the region and Wales.”
Cllr Neil McEvoy Executive Member for Economic Development at Cardiff Council - Aled Blake: The launch of the Cardiff Business Partnership
