Avanta Provides Free Office Space for Investors in Manchester

London, United Kingdom, February 04, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Avanta is rolling out the red carpet to new investors in Manchester as part of the Hello Manchester scheme, which has been developed in partnership with the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), MIDAS and a small number of business centre operators, to provide them with free serviced office space in the city.

Hello Manchester offers new investors to the Manchester City region free desk space for the first 12 months of their relocation to the area as part of Manchester’s continued drive to attract investment and jobs. The rent free period applies to one free desk per investing company.

The offer is focused on attracting foreign-owned businesses and is designed to promote and maintain Manchester’s status as a top ten European business location with a wide-ranging and flexible talent pool of people, excellent transport infrastructure including Manchester Airport and a diverse and high quality portfolio of business premises.

“Avanta has a history of wholeheartedly supporting initiates to help attract and support foreign investors to the UK and, having supported a similar scheme in London for the past two years, we’ve found them to be highly successful in attracting new businesses,” comments Chris Taylor, Avanta’s director of corporate development. “Therefore we are 100% behind the Hello Manchester scheme.”

“We know that new investors in Manchester will appreciate the reduction in cost of initial market entry, together with the enhanced speed to market that we can provide and we shall therefore look forward to providing them with a soft landing in the city.”

Hello investors will also be supported by the full spectrum of business development services provided by the NWDA and MIDAS, including an extensive, free and confidential package of advice and assistance to companies looking to relocate to or expand within Manchester City region. In addition, investors will also be supported by MIDAS’ partner organisations, including Business Link and Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

Mark Hughes, executive director of economic development at the NWDA, said: “The Northwest is well known for its friendly hospitality and welcoming population and we are also one of the best performing regions for foreign direct investment (FDI). The Hello service brings these two important characteristics together and should help us secure even more investment in future years which in turn will help grow our economy.”

FDI plays a very important part in the northwest economy. A study by DTZ for the NWDA in 2008 highlighted the value and significance that FDI has in the region. The report found that over 17 per cent of regional gross value added (GVA) is accounted for by foreign-owned companies operating in the northwest and that economic output (GVA) per worker is almost 50 per cent higher in foreign-owned companies compared to the regional average.

Colin Sinclair, chief executive of MIDAS, said: “We’re delighted to announce the launch of Hello with our partner organisations. Manchester has always given businesses a warm welcome and we believe this excellent service will prove to be one more compelling reason for businesses to bring investment and jobs to the city region.”

###