World-Wide Presence

We have developed a unique group with a world-wide span to maximise the benefits for companies seeking international presence and governments seeking foreign investment. 

Economic Development & Regional Development require a world-wide reach to enable companies to grow internationally in the regions that best suit their circumstances and Government to attract & sustain investment from validated international sources.  We are a regional development consultancy made up of a group of specialist associates. We typically work with public sector agencies on their overall economic development strategy and approach, as well as providing training and development for their staff.

We have particular expertise in the field of inward investment and investor development.

We can also provide public agencies with specialist advice on state aid and funding interventions and our team has advised some of the largest private sector companies on grant funding for their investment projects

Our recommendations and suggested future direction are rooted in detailed financial and economic planning and analysis. We have tremendous expertise in developing economic baseline analyses or providing sophisticated financial development appraisal models.

We have access to a range of economic reporting databases as well as a number of different reporting tools providing you with detailed analysis, graphical illustration or map based spatial representation.

All of this ensures that our reporting is evidence based, providing you with the assurance that you require in order to gain approval for implementation

Strategy

Gaining success in regional development is becoming more challenging and more competitive. Countries and regions with huge marketing budgets compete to become ‘front of mind’ whilst subsidies and speculatively constructed property can seduce international investors.

At the centre of the really successful agencies, however, is a strategy carefully developed from a

detailed analysis:

• What do we want to achieve?
• What must we do to achieve it?
• What will we need to make this happen?

Place Making

We work on the supply side (place making) and the demand side (investment attraction) of regional development. We have worked at a regional and local level in examining the determinants of economic success or failure and developing the vision for the future.

In our experience too many locations focus on one aspect of delivery – economic strategy, a spatial outcome (usually involving a master plan), or a financially driven outcome. In reality the three aspects must be combined and co-developed with the community involved. In this manner there is an opportunity to change a region in both a deliverable and sustainable manner.

We frequently work alongside master planners and have a partner firm providing financial modelling to ensure that the best outcome can be delivered for the client. After the work is complete, every engagement is delivered with a detailed action plan and an evaluation framework to ensure that success is measurable

Winning and retaining investment

We have a vast amount of experience in every aspect of securing corporate investment and of corporate location selection. We continue to develop work on how Investment Promotion Agencies influence corporate decision making and what types of intervention can be made by public agencies.

We have also developed a strong reputation for our work on the retention and development of large corporate clients in regional economies. We see this as the single most critical aspect of regional development.

High Performing Teams

Performance depends on the team involved.  Perfect strategy and operational alignment needs high quality and consistent implementation. Our work is focused on implementation and we are renowned for our regional development training work. We have carried out training for development agency staff all over the world and have carried out thousands of hours of performance changing workshops.

Market Intelligence & Research

We assist clients through different stages in their business and product cycles and, unlike many consultancies, assist with both market strategy formulation and implementation. Our work is thus structured on a partnership basis with our clients and our skill-sets include research, marketing management and communications

The basis for most of our research is face to face interviewing with selected respondents who have knowledge, experience and views relevant to our client's market objectives. It inevitably covers a broad range of inputs, including end-users, purchasers, assemblers, advertisers, product suppliers, parts and component suppliers, sources of raw materials and government regulators.

Our information gathering is based on scientific principles and our research professionals are fully trained in questionnaire design, sampling disciplines and interview techniques. In addition, we are familiar with and utilize government data and other reputable sources of secondary information. We also make extensive use of statistical analysis and business modelling to help define solutions and make recommendations for modifications to the client's business model.

Project managers then work where appropriate with clients to assist in communication and implementation of recommendations so there is continuing support to the client from the research platform

Winning and retaining investment

We have a vast amount of experience in every aspect

of securing corporate investment and of corporate location selection. We continue to develop work on how Investment Promotion Agencies influence corporate decision making and what types of intervention can be made by public agencies.

We have also developed a strong reputation for our work on the retention and development of large corporate clients in regional economies. We see this as the single most critical aspect of regional development.