Foreign direct investment in the South West by project type and investor characteristics

14 Jul 2026

This data insight describes inward foreign direct investment (FDI) activity in the South West, focusing on the types of projects recorded and the characteristics of investing firms.

The analysis uses official statistics published by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and covers the number of FDI projects and associated new jobs. Results are presented by project type and investor type, with comparisons to other UK regions and England excluding London where appropriate.

The total number of FDI projects is broken down into three categories: (i) new investment - when a foreign investor establishes a new entity in the region, (ii) expansion projects - when an existing investor expands an existing foreign direct enterprise in the region, and (iii) mergers and acquisitions - when a foreign investor merges with or acquires at least 10% of an existing UK company.

FDI figures relate to projects landing in each financial year. Sub-national totals exclude multi-site projects. Some values are suppressed to protect commercial confidentiality.

The South West region is one of 12 International Territorial Level 1 areas (ITL1) in the UK. It comprises Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire.

1,189

New jobs from FDI new investment projects in the South West, 2025/26.

22

New investment FDI projects recorded in the South West, 2025/26.

46.79%

Share of South West FDI projects attributed to EU investors, 2023/24 to 2025/26.

58.99%

Share of South West FDI-related new jobs attributed to EU investors, 2023/24 to 2025/26.

Number of FDI-related new jobs by project type, UK regions, 2025/26

This visualisation shows the number of new jobs associated with inward FDI projects, split by project type, across UK regions in the financial year 2025/26.

In the South West, 1,189 new jobs were associated with new investment projects. Job figures for expansion projects and mergers and acquisitions are suppressed to protect commercial confidentiality.

Across regions, the composition of FDI-related new jobs varied. London recorded the highest number of new jobs linked to new investment projects at 12,412, followed by the West Midlands at 2,944, Scotland at 2,671 and the North West at 2,550. Some regional values are suppressed due to disclosure control.

Number of FDI projects by project type, UK regions, 2025/26

This visualisation presents the number of inward FDI projects by project type across UK regions in the financial year 2025/26.

The South West recorded 22 new investment projects. Figures for expansion projects and mergers and acquisitions are suppressed to protect commercial confidentiality. Project totals exclude multi-site investments.

Across regions, the mix of project types differed. London recorded the highest number of new investment projects at 287, followed by the West Midlands at 69 and the North West at 59. Scotland recorded the highest number of expansion projects at 48. Some values are suppressed to avoid disclosure.

FDI-related new jobs by investor type, UK regions, 2025/26

This visualisation shows the proportion of FDI-related new jobs associated with new and existing investors across UK regions in the financial year 2025/26.

Data on FDI-related new jobs by investor type for the South West are suppressed to protect commercial confidentiality in 2025/26. As England and England excluding London are derived from the English regions, they cannot be calculated where one or more regional values are suppressed.

Across other regions where data are available, the share of jobs linked to existing investors was higher than the share linked to new investors in most cases. London was a notable exception, recording the highest share of new investor jobs at 57.57%. Percentages are calculated using published job counts only and exclude suppressed values to protect commercial confidentiality.

Number of FDI projects by investor type, UK regions, 2025/26

This visualisation presents the proportion of inward FDI projects attributed to new and existing investors across UK regions in the financial year 2025/26.

Data on FDI projects by investor type for the South West are suppressed to protect commercial confidentiality in 2025/26. As England and England excluding London are derived from the English regions, they cannot be calculated where one or more regional values are suppressed.

Across other regions where data are available, the balance between new and existing investors varied. London recorded the highest share of new investor projects at 71.78%, while Scotland had the lowest at 17.02%. Percentages are calculated from published project counts only and exclude suppressed categories to protect commercial confidentiality.

EU investor share of FDI projects and new jobs, UK regions, 2023/24 to 2025/26

This visualisation shows the proportion of inward FDI projects and associated new jobs attributed to EU investors across UK regions, based on aggregated data for the period 2023/24 to 2025/26.

In the South West, EU investors accounted for 46.79% of FDI projects and 58.99% of associated new jobs over the period 2023/24 to 2025/26. This compares with 42.55% of projects and 39.64% of new jobs in England excluding London.

Percentages are calculated as shares of total recorded FDI activity. Sub-national totals exclude multi-site projects, and some values are suppressed to protect confidentiality. The South West recorded the second highest EU investor share of new jobs among all UK regions over this period.