It’s recently been announced that Yorkshire and the Humber secured more than 50 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects in 2024, and Leeds was ranked the UK’s fifth best-performing city outside of London.
The region secured 25 FDI projects in 2024, representing a significant 53% year-on- year uptick from a total of 34 in 2023. As well as the increase in overall projects, employment created by FDI projects in Yorkshire and the Humber stood at 4,247 jobs in 2024, more than double the 2023 total (1,993).
Tim West, Leeds Office Managing Partner at EY, said: “Yorkshire and the Humber bucked the UK trend in 2024. The region’s strong performance was underpinned by its manufacturing prowess, which continues to shine brightly despite the impact of a range of economic headwinds.
“Our survey highlights that access to a skilled workforce, the availability of partners and suppliers, and the strength of local transport infrastructure are key criteria for global investors when considering locations outside of London. This should be encouraging for our region’s prospects, given its dynamic range of vibrant companies and its talented workforce.”
