'Ambassadors' are benefiting region

Apr 15 2009 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

A HANDFUL of North East "ambassadors" are behind foreign investment in the region worth more than £200m and responsible for creating thousands of jobs.

The dedicated team of around 30 staff have been praised for their work in attracting investment from some of the world’s leading companies.

Known by development bosses as the region’s Inward investment and Aftercare department, this “team North East” has just a few staff spread out across the globe, but has been recognised as one of the most successful parts of the region’s regeneration team.

When accountants recently looked at how One North East was spending its money, they discovered that the global investment department generates more than £50 for every £1 spent.

Patrick Kendell, investment and aftercare manager, said this success was down to “selling the region as a business case”.

“We are a gateway to Europe or even to other parts of the world for companies from China and Japan and from there it is a case of seeing what strengths we have to match up to other sectors. We go to people and say you may not have heard of us but we have a lot to offer.

“Our work involves attracting foreign direct invest with a combination of new projects and projects who have been here for some time

“Before that, it would have been about getting bums on seats as it were, such as back in the 1980s and 1990s when we just wanted a large developer to come here. Now it is much more about longer term sights and closer links with other countries.”

He added: “In the US we are partners with the North West and the strap line there is ‘your personal business ambassador’, which I think illustrates what we do quite well.

“Staff are based in the USA, Canada, Japan, China, India Korea, Norway, Sweden and a joint venture in the US and Canada. We get the most from Europe and the States and China, but all our teams are making the most of the potential investment.”