Let’s lure businesses from the south east

DEAR Editor, Latest figures show that investors are shunning London in favour of UK regions. With the election of the first West Midlands Mayor in just three months, each candidate must take this region’s message to London to encourage more businesses in the south-east to relocate to Greater Birmingham.

Attracting companies from the south east will boost our region’s economy, improve productivity, provide a jobs boost – and stimulate our leisure and cultural offer. It should be a high priority for whoever is elected mayor.

We are the best located region for business with excellent UK communications without the disadvantages of overcrowding, high property rentals and unaffordable housing – all symptoms of London.

Corporate real estate investment in London declined from £10 billion in 2013 to around £3 billion in the third quarter of 2016. We must take advantage and promote ourselves as a region for investment and opportunity whilst capitalising on our proximity to the capital.

Simultaneously, we should look beyond HS2 to increase our publicly-funded infrastructure. Whereas in London annual transport spend per capita is £1,869 in the West Midlands it is just £266 – 1/7 of that in the capital. Charles Smith, managing director,

Boston Fieldgate