City of Growth
What's been happening in Sheffield recently? Quite a lot. Its been a busy 12 months for Sheffield City Council's Inward Investment Team. The major projects we have been working on include;
The Clipper Logistics deal is finally over the line!! The largest industrial premises currently on the market in the UK has a new occupier. Clipper Logistics have made the Polestar 615 building their new home. 1200+ new jobs will be created to deliver the fulfillment of Boohoo and PrettyLittleThing. How significant is this investment? Possibly the largest inward investment success in a generation.
Digital education company Tes Global will be moving into 3 St Paul's Place creating 200 jobs. Sheffield was selected due to the city's status as an increasingly important education sector hub with Department of Education offices, two universities and other well-known EdTech companies situated nearby.
Automotive Sector. We have been supporting Jonathan Clement at McLaren Automotive to develop their supply chain with local businesses. Despite the beast from the east, the turnout for a recent supply chain event was excellent, showing the resilience and grit of Sheffield businesses. McLaren's presentation during the event genuinely gave me goose bumps.
We are also working on a number of other significant inward investment enquiries in the automotive sector, both domestic and foreign direct investments. Like the banking sector, smaller challenger companies are now entering the market, using new technologies to service a changing automotive landscape.
Channel 4....We attended the briefing at C4’s London HQ last week to hear about their strategy to adopt a multi-site model in 2019. Channel 4 are inviting cities across the UK to pitch to become their proposed National HQ or one of two new C4 Creative Hubs, with the aim that a decision on the locations will be made in Q3 2018. We’re well placed to respond from the work we have already done for the DCMS consultation. C4 have asked that we provide a short written submission. Deadline is 11th May!!!
Sheffield's Digital and Tech sector continues to grow at a faster rate than anywhere else in the UK. Tech companies that established footholds in the city in the last couple of years have grown their Sheffield Hub's and are now looking to make an onward move into larger offices in the city. To cope with demand, Sheffield City Council is working with partners to develop major TechHub's in the city.
New social work regulator Social Work England will launch in Sheffield, creating 120 new jobs. A new regulator, responsible for driving forward improvements in social work practice, will be set up in Sheffield and will be responsible for regulating all social workers in England.
So what's next?? The next 12 months will no doubt be even busier as pipeline projects come into fruition and existing companies will continue to grow. The manufacturing sector has always been the heartbeat of the Sheffield economy and continues to grow. I am currently working with 3 large manufacturing businesses looking to expand their capacity with the acquisition of new sites, machinery and new personnel.
We look forward to build on the relationships with stakeholders in the city and beyond. If you want to find out more please get in touch https://www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/invest/meet-the-team