Location:	Home to some of the fastest growing districts in England, Lincolnshire is not only a county rich in history, but now, with its potential being realised, it is also set to act as a catalyst for economic realisation, investment opportunity and entrepreneurial flair. With the infrastructure in place for a skilled workforce, Lincolnshire is a county ready to propel itself into the midst of both national and international economic arenas.
The county offers a diversity of landscapes, local economies and industries. From Lincoln, the contemporary centre, through to historic market towns such as Boston, Grantham, Stamford, Louth, Sleaford and Gainsborough, to bustling coastal towns such as Skegness, sustainable business growth is being achieved without affecting the county’s renowned quality of life. Lincolnshire is above all, a county bursting with opportunity, forward thinking and creativity. It has the space and focus of mind to ensure success for the investors of today, tomorrow and the future.

Transportation Services:
Located on the East Coast, Lincolnshire is the UK’s fourth largest county covering an area of 5,921 sq km. It is strategically located to serve the whole of the UK and mainland Europe. The Midlands, South East, North West and East are all within easy reach by road using the A1, A15, A16, A17, A52 and the A46, while the bustling east coast ports, rail network and five regional airports complete the optimum logistics mix.

 

Assisted Area Status:

Until 2006 Lincolnshire will benefit from a major injection of money from the European Union’s Structural Funds under Objective 2. Lincolnshire has qualified under both the Urban and Rural strands of Objective 2 with a programme worth over £60 million in EU grant. With local, public and private sector funding added to this figure, the whole programme is worth over £150 million to Lincolnshire. This will have a major impact on the economic development of the county. A broad sweep of the County is covered, including all of East Lindsey, West Lindsey, North Kesteven and parts of Lincoln City and Boston Borough Council. Other parts of Boston Borough and much of South Holland also benefit from ‘transitional’ funding.

Other Kinds of Financial Assistance on Offer:
Companies locating to Lincolnshire will benefit from full business support services, assistance with training, as well as sites and premises searches. Lincolnshire is rolling out broadband connectivity right across the county. Many of the key employment sites are already broadband-enabled with the others coming on board in 2005 through Lincolnshire’s Broadband Initiative. This European-funded initiative will ensure that businesses have all the essential facilities that they need to stay connected to the modern world and in touch with their markets. In addition, the Lincolnshire Broadband Initiative is offering subsidised access to affordable broadband for eligible businesses. For more information visit their website: www.lincolnshirebroadband.net
 

Available Sites:	Smart businesses locating to Lincolnshire can find a real return on their investment. High-quality office space right across the county, at an average price of £9.00 per sq ft, with fully managed modern workspace units averaging £15.00 per sq ft and industrial units from as little as £4.00 per sq ft.
There are significant development opportunities located throughout Lincolnshire. You could build to your own specification in an urban or rural setting using the range of development land available from 0.2 hectares to over 60 hectares from as little as £90,000 per hectare.
Major Business Parks:	Boston: Boston Riverside Industrial Estate, Endeavour Park, Sutterton Enterprise Park; East Lindsey: Fairfield Industrial Estate - Louth, Boston Road Industrial Estate - Horncastle, Golf Road Industrial Estate - Mablethorpe, Millbrook Business Park - Wragby; Greater Lincoln: Swinderby Industrial Park - A46, Gateway Park - North Hykeham, Lindum Business Park - North Hykeham, South West Quarter - Lincoln, Brayford Enterprise Park - Lincoln, Sleaford Enterprise Park, Heapham Road - Gainsborough, Foxby Lane -
Gainsborough, Saxilby Enterprise Park; South Holland: Spalding Employment Area, Holbeach Technology Park, Wingland Enterprise Park - Sutton Bridge, Peterborough Road - Crowland, Hundreds Lane - Long Sutton; South Kesteven: Spittlegate Level - Grantham, Sir Isaac Newton Industrial Park - Colsterworth, Mill Lane Industrial Estate - South Witham.

Major Industries:
Service sectors include: distribution, banking and business services, hotels, tourism and leisure. Manufacturing sectors include: agriculture and food processing, packaging machinery and materials, engineering and metals, rubber, plastics, timber, electrical/electronic products, paper/printing, textiles, chemicals and energy generation.

Major Companies in the Area:
Siemens, Geest, BT, HBS, Geo Adams, Smedleys, Park Air Systems, Newage International, Cargill, LinPac, Rose Bearings, Infranor, Honda, Creative Industries and Media.

Advice and Assistance:
Full support is given to businesses looking to relocate, expand or set up a new operation in the county and are assisted every step of the way by the Invest Lincolnshire team. By tapping into specialist knowledge in both the public and private sectors, Invest Lincolnshire can help find appropriate sites and premises to ease the relocation process for businesses. This service is free and confidential and tailored to meet the needs of the enquiry. Invest Lincolnshire can access additional information to help you with your move, such as: the county’s demographics, financial assistance packages, labour supply, skills market and the availability of advanced broadband. The Invest Lincolnshire team approach is about bringing together various disciplines and expertise from both the public and private sectors at an early stage. For example, if an investor needs a new office building, we would bring together officers from the relevant planning departments to give pre-planning advice, the highways departments, building inspectors and private sector developers with the knowledge and expertise needed to properly plan the job.

Contact:
Invest Lincolnshire Enquiry Service (ILES), Beech House, Witham Park, Waterside South, Lincoln LN5 7JH. Tel. +44-(0)1522-550550. Fax +44-(0)1522-516720. E-mail: invest@lincolnshire.gov.uk Web site: www.investlincolnshire.com
 

Summary:

Lincolnshire is keen to embrace development and attract new businesses into a county which is a great place to live, work, invest and visit. The county has the space, development and investment opportunities to help businesses grow and its rural backdrop ensures the area is renowned for its quality of life.

In Lincolnshire, businesses can be assured of value for money with highly competitive prices for development land and commercial properties. With the assistance of Invest Lincolnshire and its partnership approach to enquiries, the pathway into the county has never been easier.

“I was blown away by the speed and efficiency of the Invest Lincolnshire response to my enquiry – the service is excellent” Phil Crowshaw, Director, Premier Cru Associates and Experts Online TV.