More than 1,000 jobs have been created or safeguarded in Leicestershire over the past financial year thanks to a Government-backed company which aims to bring investment to the county.Annual figures announced yesterday showed that Invest Leicestershire - the official inward investment company for Leicester and Leicestershire - secured "record" levels of investment in the year to March 2008.
The company has not announced the amount of that investment, but said it had supported or created a total of 1,053 jobs.
Invest Leicestershire, part of Leicester Shire Promotions, offers an extensive package of advice to businesses looking to relocate to, or expand within the county.
Over the financial year, the company worked alongside partners such as East Midlands Development Agency (Emda) to support companies including ATX Software, Brevitt-Rieker, JLG, Migraine Action Association, Office Depot, PepsiCo and Ultrafabrics.
It is supported by Leicester Shire Economic Partnership, East Midlands Development Agency, Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council and private sector partners.
Kishor Tailor, chief executive of Leicester Shire Economic Partnership, said: "We have funded Invest Leicestershire for over four years and it has consistently achieved impressive results in attracting and safeguarding jobs for the area.
"What is particularly important in these results is the quality of the jobs that Invest Leicestershire has secured.
"This does prove that the city and county are great places in which to invest. These successes illustrate this view is shared increasingly by key business investors."
Among the successes is international software provider ATX Software, which has created a new, wholly-owned UK subsidiary at office space within the University of Leicester.
It hopes to create up to 10 new jobs over the next three years.
In partnership with Emda, Invest Leicestershire helped the company find a new location and provided links with partners such as Business Link, law firms and recruitment agencies.
ATX chief executive Luís Andrade said: "Invest Leicestershire and its partners have been assisting us in ways that we didn't even dream were possible. Without them, it would have taken us ages to establish our subsidiary and the market does not wait."
Elsewhere, leading international footwear distributor Brevitt-Rieker is to move its North European head office to the Compass Point development, in Market Harborough.
The company will relocate from its existing UK head office in Northamptonshire, safeguarding 24 jobs and creating up to 80 new jobs over the next three years.
Company managing director Ewen Campbell said: "We are delighted that the plans for this move have proceeded successfully.
"We are particularly indebted to the help of Invest Leicestershire and Harborough District Council and their commitment to finding a suitable solution.
"Compass Point will be an important move for Brevitt-Rieker and this prestigious development reflects our own forward-looking vision."
Martin Peters, chief executive of Leicester Shire Promotions, said: "The team at Invest Leicestershire has worked tremendously hard to achieve these record results and we are proud of their efforts."
For more details call 0116 225 4071.
Source: Leicester Mercury
More news in Leicestershire