British American Business 2008 | Practical Advice | UK Trade & Investment

The UK – a springboard to your global growth By investing in the UK, US companies can help to fulfil their international ambitions

The best environment for business

The UK’s vibrant and diversified economy is the ideal location to realise your global business potential. It is politically and economically stable with a well-established legal framework and a skilled, flexible labor force. The UK economy’s strength is underpinned by large investments in public services and infrastructure, including education, health and transportation.

The UK is internationally acclaimed for creativity, innovation and invention

This, combined with easy access to European markets, uncomplicated regulation and low corporate taxation make the UK an excellent environment in which to conduct business. It offers a solid base in which, and from which, US companies can prosper; whether they have international, European or UK business horizons. The UK offers a winning combination of success, confidence, ambition, know-how and innovation.

In the financial year 2006-7, 1,431 foreign companies chose to invest in the UK, beating the record level set in the previous year. Over 40% of these projects were new investments, almost a quarter represented expansions of earlier investments, and the remainder were mainly mergers and acquisitions. The US remained by far the UK’s largest investing country in 2006-7, with 540 projects.

Unlike most of its competitors, however, the UK isn’t just an investment destination – it is an investment multiplier, a springboard to international growth that can boost the value of a company’s investment. Companies don’t just do business in the UK because they’re interested in the UK market, they also come here to take advantage of a prosperous economy, an international perspective and to become a global force.

Did you know?

• The UK boasts four of the six largest legal services firms in the world and 200 foreign legal services companies;
• Eight of the world’s top 10 largest management consulting firms (based on fee income) are from the UK.

World-class creativity and innovation

The UK is internationally acclaimed for creativity, innovation and invention. Its reputation acts as a magnet to attract the best of global creative and talent and technological expertise, while work permit and visa requirements ensure that companies can recruit the highly-skilled staff that they need to remain competitive.

Did you know?

• The UK is the most popular location in Europe for investment in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology R&D and for staging clinical trials;
• The UK has been awarded over 70 Nobel Prizes in scientific disciplines and has the top four universities in Europe;
• The UK is ranked as the best performer in the G8 leading economies per unit of R&D spend.
• The UK automotive design sector is widely acknowledged as a leader in product development. Seven Formula 1 teams have their headquarters in the UK for that reason.

Gateway of international connections

The UK has formed many clusters of business services and technologies that are truly world class. For companies to grow, they need outstanding support networks and, as well as a large market and quality suppliers, the UK also offers global business leaders the opportunity to interact with the very best of their international peers. In short, it is a global business culture that plugs companies into a vital international network of connections.

Did you know?

• Over 500 foreign firms are listed on the London Stock Exchange.
• The UK has the highest number of leading MBA courses in Europe.
• More than 27% of London’s population is made up of different ethnic groups, creating a diverse work force with an abundance of employees speaking hundreds of languages.

How UK Trade & Investment can help

The UK offers global business leaders outstanding support

The UK government is fully committed to assisting US companies to set up or expand in the UK. UK Trade & Investment is the government organization that helps overseas companies bring high-quality investment to the UK’s economy and UK-based firms to succeed in an increasingly global economy. Its range of expert services is tailored to the needs of individual businesses to maximize their international success.

UK Trade & Investment provides support and advice to investors at all stages of their business decision-making. It offers expertise and contacts through a network of international specialists throughout the UK, and in British Embassies and other diplomatic offices around the world. Its comprehensive range of services includes:

• Tailored client account management;
• In-depth information provision;
• Support from a new cadre of technology specialists;
• Support with exporting from the UK.

For further information, visit: www.ukinvest.gov.uk

UKTI HAS NINE LOCATIONS ACROSS THE US

Atlanta British Consulate-General, Georgia Pacific Center Suite 3400, 133 Peachtree Street NE Atlanta GA 30303 Tel: +1 404 954 7730 Fax: +1 404 954 7702 Boston British Consulate-General, One Memorial Drive 15th Floor Cambridge MA 02142 Tel +1 617 245 4507 Fax +1 617 621 0220 Chicago British Consulate-General, The Wrigley Building 400 N Michigan Avenue Suite 1300 Chicago IL 60611 Tel: +1 312 970 3846 Fax: +1-312-840 3797 Houston British Consulate-General, Wells Fargo Plaza 1000 Louisiana Suite 1900 Houston, Texas 77002 Tel: +1 713 655 0536 Fax: +1 713 659 7094 Los Angeles British Consulate-General, 11766 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1200 Los Angeles, California 90025-6538 Tel: +1 310 996 3021 Fax: +1 310 481 2960

Miami British Consulate-General 1001 Brickell Bay Drive, Suite 2800 Miami, FL 33131 Tel: +1 305 374-1522 Fax: +1 305 374-8196 New York British Consulate-General 845 Third Avenue New York NY 10022 Tel: +1 212 745 0427 Fax: +1 212 745 0485 San Francisco British Consulate-General Suite 850, 1 Sansome Street San Francisco, CA 94104 Tel: +1 415 617 1360 Fax: +1 415 434 2018 Washington DC British Embassy 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington DC 20008 Tel: +1 202 588 6864 Fax: +1 202 588 768

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