West Midlands hailed as key investment hub as Chamber welcomes US delegation
US companies with eyes on UK expansion are increasingly looking outside of London and placing their confidence in the West Midlands.
That was the key takeaway when a delegation from the US Embassy visited Birmingham to find out how American investment is helping to transform the region into a world-class centre for business, culture and sport.
Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce welcomed the delegation led by Brenda VanHorn, senior commercial officer at the Embassy’s US Commercial Service.
Addressing business leaders during a reception at the University of Birmingham’s The Exchange building, Ms VanHorn said: “Birmingham and the West Midlands remain a key strategic region for two-way trade and investment for my team.
“In fact, if there's one piece of advice that I have given to all the delegations and all the companies that come to visit us, it’s this - look beyond London.
“Go and see what's happening in the rest of the country. This is where business is getting done and deals are getting done. I've seen that firsthand.”
The Chamber-led programme kicked off with a visit to Birmingham City Football Club, where the Embassy delegation heard from CEO Jeremy Dale about the club’s transformational Sports Quarter project, which is backed by a £3bn investment from American owners Knighthead Capital Management.
A tour of Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight’s Digbeth Loc Studios followed, while talks took place about opportunities for TV and film production in the region.
The delegation also visited HS2’s Curzon Street site to learn more about how the rail project is helping to attract inward investment and create jobs.
Meanwhile, a group of SMEs with an interest in growing or expanding into the US joined Ms VanHorn for roundtable talks at the city centre offices of professional services firm Forvis Mazars.
Rounding off the visit with a reception at The Exchange, Ms VanHorn highlighted American companies such as Amazon, Mondelez and Collins Aerospace who have “placed their confidence” in the West Midlands for “the good business environment that exists.”
She said 59 US companies have invested in the region since 2020 – creating more than 5,000 jobs.
She added: “More than one-million jobs are created in each of our countries by businesses from the other country.
“And when you look specifically at the West Midlands, the picture is even more striking.
“Research shows that between January, 2020 and 2026, US companies announced 59 foreign direct investment projects in this region, estimated to create more than 5,000 jobs and committing $2.36 billion in capital.
“And we want to see more going in the other direction as well, because it does go both ways - over the same period, our research showed that West Midlands firms announced more than 20 investment projects into the US, creating another 1,500 jobs and investing about £243 million in the US.”
The US Embassy delegation – which also included commercial specialist Stephen A. Brown and deputy cultural attaché Jennifer Schueler – were joined by the GBCC’s acting deputy CEO Raj Kandola, head of Global Chamber Jayne Hume, University of Birmingham’s assistant director for business engagement and research impact Richard Fox, and UOB’s director of global relations and research Andrea-Claire Williams.
Pictured (top): Brenda VanHorn (senior commercial officer, US Embassy London) with Raj Kandola (acting deputy CEO, GBCC)
