The Mersey Partnership Receives Prestigious Inward Investment Kitemark

13 April 2004

At the Techlocate Berlin conference in March 2004, four European inward investment agencies were awarded the investment promotion industry's unique kitemark - the "Techlocate Tick". This brings to 24 the number of agencies that have been recognised in this way.

The four agencies are:
· The Mersey Partnership
· ITD Hungary
· Greater Zurich Area
· East Midlands Development Agency

Agencies are judged on their performances in the following areas:
· innovative strategy that shows an understanding of global business needs
· marketing excellence that makes the most of new tools
· tech-savvy location strengths that appeal to high-tech players

Tenon Techlocate - the leading European inward investment consultancy - selects the recipients of the Techlocate Tick on the basis of its experiences working alongside Europe's inward investment agencies, intermediaries and major corporate movers for the last three years.

The awards were announced at Techlocate's Berlin conference this week which was attended by leading inward investors such as Microsoft, Oracle, 3, Sykes and easyJet.

Speaking in Berlin, Adam Breeze, director of Tenon Techlocate said:
"With every single town, city, region and country aggressively promoting itself to business, it is important to distinguish and single out those agencies that are demonstrating a real understanding of what potential inward investors are looking for.

Since we launched the kitemark a year ago, we have been monitoring the developments at all European investment agencies with a view to adding to the original list of 20 announced last year. We are delighted to add four more agencies this week.

The Mersey Partnership has implemented a number of new initiatives in marketing and aftercare that set them apart from many of their peers. ITD Hungary is demonstrating how lower cost locations in central Europe can now compete for high value projects such as Shared Service Centres. Greater Zurich Area has produced several innovative marketing campaigns that can be regarded as best practice. While the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) becomes the first English RDA to receive the award. This recognises the great strides emda has undertaken to rethink its entire inward investment strategy, bring in new people and implement a number of exciting initiatives."

Mark Basnett, Head of Investment at The Mersey Partnership said: "It's our objective to provide Merseyside with an investment service of a premier European standard. This award is recognition that we are up there with the best in Europe and reflects the commitment and dedication that we have put in over the past 12 months with the excellent support of our partners and members."

More agencies will be awarded the Tick once they have demonstrated excellence in the following areas:

Innovative strategy:
· Does the agency show an understanding of global business needs?
· Is its strategy truly customer-focussed?
· Are new and innovative paths being pursued?
· Does the agency look to adapt to changes in business trends?
· Is there a strategy for attracting projects from companies already in the location?
· Are key intermediaries being networked with?
· Does the agency pursue innovative alliances with other agencies?

Marketing excellence:
· Is the agency deploying the latest technology tools for contact management?
· Does the agency have an effective website?
· Do they use eNewsletters?
· Are their marketing materials customised, timely and relevant?
· Has a brand been established which stands out from the crowd?

Tech-savvy location:
· Does the agency make the most of strengths that appeal to high-tech players?
· Is there a clear offer to high-tech players?
· Is the question of available brainware correctly addressed?
· Are the relevant people employed by the agency tech-savvy?
· Does the agency provide an efficient and professional service?

In alphabetical order the 24 agencies that have received the Techlocate Tick are:
· Austrian Business Agency
· Berlin Business Development Corporation
· Business Arena Stockholm
· Copenhagen Capacity
· Cote d'Azur Development
· CzechInvest
· East Midlands Development Agency
· Estonian Investment Agency
· Flanders Foreign Investment Office
· Greater Zurich Area
· Invest in Bavaria
· Invest in Denmark
· Invest in Skane
· Invest in Sweden
· Invest UK
· ITD Hungary
· Locate in Kent
· Locate North France (NFX)
· MIDAS (Manchester)
· Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency
· Northern Netherlands (NOM)
· Ouest Atlantique
· The Mersey Partnership
· Welsh Development Agency

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