Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

Figures reported by the agency show record numbers of relocations and expansions over the past 12 months. Successes include the first Chinese company HYT Telecommunications, Fisher and Paykel, German manufacturer Hornschuch, USIL (UK) Ltd, US company Euroconex, and TradePro with a full head office relocation.

Grant Seeley, director of investment for Invest Milton Keynes said: “We work with an annual budget of £1.5m, which is relatively small compared to other cities, and a team of six staff who have worked exceptionally hard fielding enquiries and working closely with potential investors.

“We have also extended our services to include relocation assistance and recruitment both locally and overseas as well as a developing a property database and offering relocation advice.

“We are currently working with some major leads and a new office development in Central Milton Keynes which is a very positive start to the year.”

Commercial enquiries are also continuing to rise, according to the agency. From the period April 2006 - March 2007 Invest Milton Keynes experienced a 47% increase in enquiries on the like for like figures from 2005-2006 with 432 land enquiries being handled.

As well as targeting London companies in finance, technology and IT, Invest Milton Keynes has recently launched a year long direct mail campaign extending to foreign owned businesses, companies near Heathrow and Gatwick and high technology businesses located between Oxford and Cambridge.

“We are keen to develop technology clusters in Milton Keynes as part of the South Central Technopole project," said Seeley.

“Within the last 12 months I have conducted technology park research across Europe and notably in Leuven, Holland learning specifically about a joint innovation strategy for the Technology Triangle - Eindhoven, Leuven and Aachen Triangle (ELAT), similar to how Milton Keynes works within the Oxford to Cambridge arc (O2C)."

“Our aim is to work closely with the O2C director and high tech companies to ensure it is an internationally recognised region for technology and knowledge based industries with Milton Keynes at its centre.”