| Industry | UK-China business service. |
|---|---|
| Number of customers | National chamber networks of UK and China, local authorities, professional services and universities. |
| Claim to fame | It is an international matchmaking service for businesses from 21 Chinese provinces and cities and local authorities and professional partners in the UK. Both sides are looking for trade and investment opportunities. |
Some of Europe’s leading companies such as O2 and Honda have HQs in Slough. There are more here than in the whole of Wales. The concept of HQ economy is a big draw to Chinese businesses.
Business partnerships between China and UK are growing all the time – in industries like design, research and development, technology, culture and creative industries.
Slough is not just close to Heathrow airport. Eton and Windsor castle are very near. The River Thames runs nearby, through the cultural heartland of England. Universities in Reading and Oxford are along the M4 and M40. And Pinewood Studios, famous for the James Bond movies, is minutes away. Every family in China knows these places, which makes Slough and the Thames Valley popular with Chinese investors.
From our point of view, we hope Slough can be seen as one of the prime locations for Chinese investors seeking to invest in UK cities and areas. From a Chinese investor’s point of view, there are lots of USPs Slough can offer, like Heathrow airport and the Western Rail Access to Heathrow (WRAtH) direct-rail-to-Heathrow scheme.
Chinese investors looking for projects can invest in our industrial parks. And as Slough is one of the biggest in Europe, it gives the area a fantastic advantage.
Dr Kegang Wu - Executive director of the BCC LinkToChina Programme
In your own hands. We have chosen Slough as HQ for the LinkToChina programme because it is close to central London and Heathrow airport. This prime UK position is what Chinese businessmen and investors are after.
Chinese businesses often invest in industrial parks like the Slough Trading Estate, owned by SEGRO (read their story). Slough is the largest privately owned in Europe. SEGRO and Slough Borough Council are strategic partners for this programme. They will help us bring in more investment.