Birmingham-based direct mail fulfilment and print management services provider, Baker Goodchild, has endorsed the findings of a major new survey by EY, which has declared the West Midlands as, 'A Global Investment Hotspot'.

According to the findings illustrated in the EY 2016 'UK Attractiveness Survey', the West Midlands attracted some 92 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in 2015, the largest number that has been recorded in a decade. This amounted to an increase of 46% on 2014, when the region attracted a total of 63 projects.

The survey found that the UK gave an outstanding performance in attracting FDI in 2015, and the findings also showed that the largest market share of UK projects was recorded by the West Midlands at 8.6%, a significant increase on the average market share for the region over the last decade, which was 6.9%. The number of projects in the West Midlands has also risen by an incredible 95% during 2013-15, all of which has helped to make Birmingham the fourth most successful UK city in attracting foreign investment.

Over the last five years, Birmingham has seen year-on-year increases in the number of projects that it has secured, rising from seven in 2011 to 24 in 2015, amounting to a 243% increase over the period.

Endorsing the survey findings, Baker Goodchild Managing Director, Lorraine Burnell, stated, "As a West Midlands-based business, we support the survey's findings that show just how successful the region is, and has become. It's clear that more and more foreign investment is being made into the region, and this can only help be of benefit to businesses and employers like ourselves. Hopefully this may also encourage more companies to realise that the West Midlands really is the hotspot for investing and doing business, as we have found."

Additionally, the survey also found that employment has also benefitted, with the jobs created from FDI reporting an increase on 2014's figures of 57% to 7,134. This has helped the West Midlands to become the best performing UK region in terms of employment, and achieve the region's best figures in over a decade. Some 75% of these jobs were created in the manufacturing sector.

The EY survey also showed that the West Midlands is still the top UK region for attracting manufacturing FDI, with 61 projects in 2015, a rise of 28% from 2014. The manufacturing sector also created 5,395 jobs in 2015, more than 75% of the total jobs in the West Midlands (7,134).

Baker Goodchild currently provides print, fulfilment and postage services for a variety of national and international clients, mailing both across the UK and overseas.

Being an independent specialist provider of bulk mail fulfilment and postal services, Baker Goodchild has invested in specialist bespoke mailing solutions and software, which enable them to be at the forefront of using new technologies within print for direct mail marketing campaigns.

Based in the heart of Birmingham, close to the city centre, Baker Goodchild is a privately-owned company with over 21 years extensive experience in providing print, mail and postage solutions, throughout the UK and Internationally.

For information on the services Baker Goodchild provides, please visit their website (www.bakergoodchild.co.uk) or call 0800 612 1972.

The EY 2016 UK Attractiveness Survey can be viewed in full at; http://www.ey.com/UK/en/Issues/Business-environment/ey-attractiveness-survey-2016-uk