The Leader of Bournemouth Council, Councillor John Beesley, welcomed the Economic Secretary to the Treasury at the launch of the South Coast Financial Services Centre of Excellence in Bournemouth on Thurday.
Bournemouth is one of the key locations around the South that make up a new Financial Services Centre of Excellence. Andrea Leadsom MP visited the offices of major investment bank, JP Morgan, at Chaseside to unveil the pilot initiative supported by major local businesses which will promote the South Coast as a leading location for financial services to encourage business relocation and growth.
The Centre of Excellence will better align education provision with business need to secure even better talent attraction and retention as well as identifying infrastructure improvements to ensure the region is an attractive place to do business.
The Leader of Bournemouth Council, Councillor John Beesley, said: “Bournemouth is home to a well-established financial services sector as well as hosting the strategic operations or headquarters of a number of major financial companies including JP Morgan, Arthur J Gallagher, LV and AGEAS.
“Financial services have a big impact on Bournemouth’s local economy, contributing more than £1bn annually, and the sector employs 10,900 people in the area. The South Coast Financial Centre of Excellence is an exciting new initiative on which we are working closely with UK Trade and Investment and the Treasury to deliver.”
Across the South Coast financial services contribute over £4.6bn, representing a fifth of the economy in Bournemouth and Poole.
Bournemouth Borough Council’s Economic Development Team is working closely with UK Trade and Investment, the Treasury, the Department of Education and financial services organisations as well as neighbouring authorities, in the delivery of this ground-breaking new initiative.
