The agency can also pinpoint sources of financial assistance such as Regional Selective Assistance, the main UK grant to inward investors.

Advantage West Midlands also has an after-care service which means overseas companies are regularly contacted to discuss matters such as re - examining building needs, training and upskilling, supply chains and networking.

Recently, the agency has been working with long established North American businesses such as Goodyear, TRW, Caterpillar, Delco Remy, Rockwell, Expeditors and Johnson Controls. And when they have been in the West Midlands for some time, businesses frequently want to expand their operations. Again Advantage West Midlands is available to offer professional and unbiased assistance.

Over the past 12 months, for instance, the agency has been involved in the expansion plans of Milsco, Aeroquip Vickers, Hydra-Fab, Dana Corp, Hi Tech Systems, C-Mac Industries, Findlay Industries and TRW.

Earlier this year, Advantage West Midlands opened offices in Chicago and San Diego to add to the work that has been done previously in its office in Pittsburgh. Already the venues are proving to be popular ports of call for North American companies interested in moving to the West Midlands.

John Edwards, chief executive of Advantage West Midlands, was a visitor to the States this spring, where he met several key business personnel. He will be returning to Pittsburgh shortly to see how that city’s famous ‘greenhouse’of startup and related businesses operates.

And when North American businesses put down their roots in the West Midlands, they won’t feel like strangers. There is an active chapter of the British American Business Council in the region, as well as the North American Connection service for ex-pat families. There they could meet up with fellow North Americans working for companies such as Power Europe, the Gruma Corporation, Bombardier, Cascades, Oracle, Bidcom, Delphi and Gap.

Perhaps many of those people didn’t know much about the West Midlands when they arrived. They may have heard of some of the major cities and places like Warwick Castle, the Cotswold Hills and perhaps even the Peak District.

They are unlikely to have known about the warm welcome they would receive – not only from the people of the region, but also from the authorities and powers that be, like Advantage West Midlands.

As the agency’s chief executive, John Edwards says: ‘Even before the birth of the industrial revolution 200 years ago, this region was a place of innovation and creation and a meeting place of many different ideas and cultures.

‘Now we are into the second revolution the same formula applies. We have a hard working population always ready and willing to learn from others and offer their skills and experience to add value to a product or service.’

‘I don’t think there is a mystery why so many North American companies choose to come to the West Midlands – we have all the right ingredients needed for success, and everyone enjoys success’.