Introduction
Marketing Birmingham has gained approval to utilise £8.809m European Regional development Funds (ERDF) over the next 3 years (2011 – 2014).
Marketing Birmingham has run 3 previous European-funded projects to bring additional financial resources to achieve its aims.
It is recognised that marketing Birmingham, Black Country and Solihull (‘the project area’) has more impact if the ‘offer’ of each area is combined rather than competing.
This project is the first in this region to link up European funding from across neighbouring Local Authority areas, in pursuit of common aims to jointly market the area to a global audience.
Another new aspect is the focussing of inward investment and business event marketing on the same sectors, to build reputation as a leading area for:
- Transport technologies – e.g. automotive, aerospace, rail
- Financial and professional services – e.g. back and middle office
- Shared Service Centres
- Emerging opportunities – e.g. Low carbon, Digital Media and Clinical trials
- Advanced Manufacturing
This diagram illustrates how this joint targeting of sectors has 'win-win' benefits:
