OCO Global, the esteemed trade, investment, and economic development advisory firm, has recently inaugurated a new office in Nottingham. This strategic move comes as part of OCO Global’s efforts to extend their support towards a new five-year, multi-million-pound contract with the esteemed Department for Business & Trade (DBT) in the pursuit of attracting inward investment across the United Kingdom.
With a remarkable establishment in Belfast over two decades ago, OCO Global has remarkably expanded its reach to encompass 14 offices worldwide, including prominent cities like London, New York, Frankfurt, Dubai, and Beijing. This exceptional firm caters to an array of prestigious clients, including international development agencies such as the Saudi Arabia General Investment Authority, as well as prominent blue-chip firms like PWC, Siemens, and Pepsico.
To meticulously serve the DBT contract, the Nottingham office has wisely recruited five seasoned senior analysts, who will initially direct their expertise towards this venture. Nonetheless, the vision for this office extends to augmenting the advisory services provided across the Midlands, notably in burgeoning industries like Clean Technologies.
The skilled analysts in both Nottingham and Belfast have actively taken part in a DBT initiative, aiming to allure higher-value investment into the United Kingdom, specifically focusing on burgeoning sectors like quantum mechanics, net zero, and sustainability. OCO valiantly equips potential investors with tailor-made research to effectively fortify their decision-making processes.
Elated by this progression, Gareth Hagan, the CEO of OCO, shared, “Nottingham marks our triumphant foray into the Midlands after our establishments in Belfast and London. We are genuinely enthused by the city’s exceptional university foundation and the abundance of talented individuals. Furthermore, we firmly believe that the Midlands harbors a multitude of extensive economic opportunities, showcasing its dynamic manufacturing base and strengths in Digital Content, Life Sciences, and Clean Technologies.”
Offering insightful advice on international market opportunities, OCO envisions a remarkable opportunity to substantially expand this facet of our business throughout Great Britain in the long term.
Earlier this year, a comprehensive survey conducted amongst 74 investment promotion agencies from OCO’s esteemed international client base revealed that an astounding 75% of them had specifically devised strategies to attract quality FDI projects, placing an elevated focus on paramount factors such as innovative technology, highly skilled employment opportunities, and vital sectors like energy and digital. Remarkably, six of the ten largest FDI greenfield projects announced in 2022 revolved around renewable energy, with an additional three centering around semiconductor manufacturing.
Richard Platts, OCO’s esteemed Products & Proposition Manager in Nottingham, expounded, “Challenging geo-political events in Ukraine and China, coupled with the far-reaching effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on national finances, have exerted immense pressures on supply chains and talent retention. As a result, the competition for attracting inward investment has intensified, prompting governments to concentrate on projects that exude quality rather than mere quantity.”
Over the course of 12 remarkable years, OCO has forged a fruitful partnership with DBT, actively contributing to some of the most noteworthy inward investment projects witnessed by the United Kingdom. These high-quality inward investment projects necessitate increasingly intricate support, which shall be amply provided by our adept analysts in Nottingham, customizing their research to meet the specialized needs of DBT and potential investors.
OCO’s expansion into Nottingham stands as a resounding testament to our unwavering belief in the region and serves as a remarkable demonstration of putting the government’s agenda of levelling-up into action.
As of last year, the United Kingdom excelled in attracting the largest number of high-value FDI projects in Europe, boasting an impressive 788 projects compared to Germany’s second ranking with 461 projects. Furthermore, the United Kingdom triumphed in generating higher-quality employment opportunities through FDI than any other European country, specifically encompassing 25,010 jobs in R&D and headquarter operations.
