Building Back Better: EY Attractiveness Survey

COMMUNITY ARTICLE

Building Back Better: EY Attractiveness Survey

The 2020 EY UK Attractiveness Survey shows that the UK performed strongly on foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2019, and is well-placed to face the challenges presented by COVID-19 and an uncertain economic environment.

Key points include:

UK achieved a 5 percent increase in inbound FDI projects compared to 2018, ending three years of declining European market share since the EU referendum, but France’s 17 percent growth puts it first in Europe
UK surged ahead in digital tech attracting 432 projects (36 percent increase), representing a 30 percent share of all European FDI projects, more than France and Germany combined
R&D projects rose to a decade high, evidencing the UK’s ongoing economic transformation
London had its best year but no signs of ‘levelling up’ across the UK with project numbers down in most English regions
Investors perceive the UK to be resilient compared to European peers as Brexit fades as an influence on investment decisions.