News: Rotherham praised for international business support

Rotherham has become the first place in England to join one of the world's most elite groups of business locations.

The US-based National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) has awarded the borough "Soft Landing Zone" status, giving it an excellent rating for helping overseas investor companies set up there.

Joining 15 other locations worldwide, it is hoped that the award will help Rotherham attract more overseas companies, bringing investment and jobs.

The Wales Digital Media Initiative is the only other UK approved soft landing zone. Others include business centres and parks across America and in Sydney, Hong Kong, and Montpellier.

NBIA is the world's leading organisation advancing business incubation and entrepreneurship and they recognised the council's four purpose-built business centres, fully managed by RiDO, that highlight Rotherham's attractive business environment.

The NBIA also recognised RiDO's knowledge and expertise to deliver a comprehensive package of support that will maximise the chances of a foreign inward investor succesfully entering a new market.

The council's Cabinet Member for economic development, planning and transportation, Cllr Gerald Smith said: "This is a tremendous coup for the borough. Coming so soon after Rolls-Royce's choice of the Advanced Manufacturing Park here for its £25m research centre, it puts another Rotherham flag on the international business map."

RiDO business development manager Tim O'Connell added: "That in turn brings greater potential for new investment and jobs. It justifies the council's commitment to creating the business centres across the borough, and our effort to help the excellent public-private partnership here to bolster the local economy.

"If we were a restaurant, this would be the equivalent of winning three Michelin stars."

NBIA membership director, Randy Morris, said: "This award puts RiDO in an elite group of just 16 business incubators from nine countries on four continents who have the unique services to assist companies who are moving into their country from another country.

"Soft Landings incubators find that the designation gives them credibility and communicates to potential clients that their services provide just what they'll need to make a "soft landing" in the new country. It gives the incubator the cache of having a respected outside organisation's recommendation."

Rotherham Investment & Development Office
NBIA website
Rotherham

Images: RiDO