Insider Media Limited

More than 2,000 jobs will be created this financial year in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire through inward investment, Insider has been told. That's according to the head of the investment development team at Make It Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.

The organisation is a consortium between the two councils in the area, which is supported by the Local Enterprise Partnership.

Its target is to bring more than 10,000 jobs to the area in the next three to five years.

"Very specifically the inward investment team are going to target 500 companies this year in certain sectors to negotiate with them to come to the area," Mark Meredith, Stoke-on-Trent City Council cabinet member for economic development, told Insider.

Investment development manager John Willis said: "Our remit is three-fold: to promote Stoke and Staffordshire as an investment location nationally and internationally; work with companies considering investment in the area; and to de-risk the investment process for these companies.

"We're keen to talk to companies that we have something specifically to offer whether that's a key strength or a supply chain opportunity."

The organisations is marketing itself to where the area has high-value sector strengths, such as the automotive sector, medical technology, aspects of digital and creative technology, particularly animation, financial services and aerospace.

Employment sectors where Stoke and Staffordshire have a particular cost-based argument or a certain asset or important development, such as the new, office-led Central Business District in the city, are also being targeted.

Meredith said: "We are effectively creating a red-carpet treatment for investors. Our investment team will hold their hand from conception to delivery of whatever scheme is being developed whether that be a small business looking to expand or an international company that wants to develop a manufacturing site here. We have the skills in house now to support those businesses."

Willis added: "In 2011/12 we are on track to create 2,000 new jobs through inward investment – the highlight being the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) plant."

Plans to build JLR's £350m Staffordshire plant, which will create 750 jobs, were approved by South Staffordshire Council in December.

"The hi-tech, skilled jobs that the plant will create are a real boost for Staffordshire. And local businesses will undoubtedly benefit from the deal – up to 2,000 additional supply chain jobs could be generated," Ben Adams, Staffordshire County Council cabinet member for economic development, told Insider at the time.