Hereford’s Enterprise Zone is set to reach an international audience in a bid to attract even more investors into the county.
Representatives from the Zone, based at the 72-hectare Skylon Park, will promote the area to more than 30,000 delegates from around the world at the leading defence and security exhibition DSEI at London’s Excel from 15 to 18 September.
Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) attracts a global audience of top level international military staff, major procurement officials, and the entire industry supply chain, from large prime contractors to supplying companies, to the annual event.
Skylon Park is the 72-hectare site designated as the Enterprise Zone of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, the private sector-led organisation tasked with revitalising the economy of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.
Bill Jackson, Chairman of the Hereford Enterprise Zone, said: “Skylon Park is the only Enterprise Zone in the UK to have a dedicated defence and security focus so this is an ideal opportunity for us to reach out to these organisations and attract them to the Enterprise Zone.
“This is the first time we have exhibited at DSEI and we aim to raise the profile of Skylon Park among businesses including General Dynamics, BAE Systems, Thales, Navantia, G4S, and Airbus Defence and Space.
“With our unique defence and security sector focus, building on Hereford’s association with UK special forces as the home of the SAS and with more than 85 defence and security sector businesses operating in the county, we offer ready-made and dedicated supply chain opportunities for investors in Skylon Park.”
Businesses moving onto Skylon Park can benefit from a range of incentives including simplified and free planning, superfast and ultrafast broadband and business rates relief.
With more than 100 acres of land available for development, the Zone is looking to stimulate significant business activity, with potential for more than 4,000 jobs accommodated on site by 2022.
