Foreign investment in Greater Lincolnshire creates 300 new jobs

A report from the Department for International Trade shows a 30 per cent increase in successful foreign direct investment projects in 2019/20 compared to the previous year.

The number of successful investment projects has now increased every year since 2014/15.

Almost half the 299 new jobs (48 per cent) pay salaries above £25,000 per year as companies invest in automation and require higher skilled technicians and engineers to support the equipment.

The 26 businesses that have invested in Greater Lincolnshire have parent companies in 17 different countries, including Singapore, Iceland, Japan and China. Most investment projects came from Denmark and the United States (four each).

Expansions and acquisitions account for almost one-third of the investment activity – the highest proportion recorded over the six-year period from 2014.

Eight businesses were acquired by foreign investors including US-owned Teleflora acquiring Interflora in Sleaford.

Turkish-based textiles maker, Seba Tekstil opened a sales office at South Rauceby, near Sleaford, while Danish Crown invested in its existing pork processing factory at Ruskington.

“Last year was another excellent one in terms of attracting foreign investment into Greater Lincolnshire,” said Pat Doody, chairman of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP.

“The majority of the investments were in the food and drink, agriculture and chemicals sectors. These are key sectors for our area and we’re delighted to see these high-value investments being made.

“We hope to see a further increase in new inward investments in the food and drink and agritech sectors over the coming years as the Food Enterprise Zone in Holbeach takes shape.

“The FEZ is an ideal opportunity for innovative SMEs in the food supply chain to base themselves alongside the University of Lincoln and a ready-made customer base in the heart of Lincolnshire – the UK’s food processing capital.”

Many of these investments have come about as a result of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP’s proactive Account Management Programme which provides free support to foreign-owned businesses throughout our region.

The number of companies supported has grown year on year and the LEP now works with 115 businesses of all types and sizes.

The Department of Trade figures relate to the financial year 2019/20 and so do not cover most of the period of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK.

Coun Colin Davie, Executive Member for Economy and Place at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Greater Lincolnshire has so much to offer investors worldwide. With 25 per cent of the UK’s grade 1 agricultural land and the country’s largest food processing cluster, our region also has significant and growing research and development assets to sit alongside it. This includes the National Centre for Food Manufacturing and the Lincoln Institute for Agritech.

“We also have competitively priced, development-ready land and a reliable workforce, making Greater Lincolnshire an attractive area for a range of industries.”

Other foreign firms in the county include Alpego UK, Annyalia Chicks and Greenyard Frozen, who all invested in their current sites at Boston.