Leicester and Leicesterhire has been announced as a new High Potential Opportunities area identified by the Government. The bid will see the region's rehabilitation sector strengthened. The scheme, coordinated by the Department for International Trade, identifies opportunities to attract foreign direct investment into emerging sectors, regions and clusters, creating new jobs and growth. Under the initiative, the Department's global network will now contact investors to promote the opportunities and attract top global investment to the Midlands.
Leicester and Leicestershire is one of 19 new investment projects announced on 9 October 2021 by the Department for International Trade and was included in the second round of successful Government High Potential Opportunities programme bids.
The new investment projects were selected following bids from Local Enterprise Partnerships across the UK. All cover emerging UK sectors including medtech, agri-tech and automation, with the Leicester and Leicestershire bids covering Life Sciences – Rehabilitation and also part of a joint High Potential Opportunity bid for Autonomous, Connected, Electric and Shared vehicles.
The programme is designed to promote opportunities to foreign investors to increase inward investment into the UK and help the country build back better.
Minister for Investment, Gerry Grimstone, announced the second round of successful bids.
“The UK has so much to offer international investors across a variety of key sectors and regions. Our High Potential Opportunity programme looks at some of the sectors and sites across the UK where we see some of the world’s greatest challenges being solved.
Kevin Harris, Chair of the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership board of Directors said:
“Leicester and Leicestershire offers fantastic opportunities for many businesses. Our central location and major transport links make us accessible both nationally and internationally and we are delighted to be included in the Department for International Trade's High Potential Opportunity programme.
“We are proud to boast two Enterprise Zones that include the MIRA Technology Park at Hinckley, a world leader in autonomous vehicle technology, and the UK’s first Life Sciences Opportunities Zone at Charnwood Campus, located within the Loughborough and Leicester Science and Innovation Enterprise Zone. This makes us a prime choice for foreign investment and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership is working with partners to capitalise on global interest and bring skilled jobs and economic prosperity to the area.”