Business Development |


Reinforcing the boroughÕs growing profile as a prime business location is the fact that St.Helens was the only district in the Northwest to successfully bid for Round 1 Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) funding. Since its launch in April 2006, the £22m five-year LEGI programme has already helped to start more than 900 new businesses and generate over 1,800 new jobs. 
Investment 
Sustained and coordinated private and public sector investments have led to a major boost in the boroughÕs appeal, both as an ideal business base and first class residential location. Prestigious developments are underway across the borough, providing managed, contemporary workspace for a range of high growth sector businesses. Key employment developments include Mere Grange, a prestigious 32,000 sq m business park and Empress Park, providing over 5,000 sq m of modern office floor space. Other projects include Micklehead Business Village and the business start-up initiative, The St.Helens Enterprise Centre, which both opened in December 2008. 
A base for business 
St.Helens is well known for its innovation and quality across a range of manufacturing sectors and is a popular choice for the distribution and logistics industry. Access to a skilled workforce, knowledge base, prestigious conference and training facilities have increased the boroughÕs attraction as a profitable business base. The proximity to the resources and support of 15 local universities has also increased the appeal of St.Helens as a preferred business location. 
A number of businesses have consequently made St.Helens their regional site: 
Biotechnology company Bachem (UK) Ltd confirmed its commitment to St.Helens with a £1.1m expansion to develop manufacturing processes for innovative biochemical and pharmaceutical compound production. 
MoneyExpert.com moved to St.Helens in 2004 and has grown into one of the top financial comparison websites in the UK. The company sees the borough as an ideal location to operate centrally in the Northwest, without paying the premiums of city centre rent. 
On securing a £1.5m investment package, Blue Prism, an enterprise software business, relocated to St.Helens. They saw the great potential and excellent support network for ICT business in the region. 
In 2008, global glassmaker Pilkington signalled its confidence in its hometown with an additional £40m investment to produce speciality glass for a number of Òeco-friendlyÓ applications, securing 250 jobs at their Cowley Hill site. 
St.Helens has undergone an impressive transformation in recent years and has plenty to offer to businesses and prospective investors. The attraction of the borough is enhanced by all-round leisure facilities that span glorious countryside, first class sport and amenities, including Haydock Park racecourse, stylish town and country residential developments, a year-round calendar of events, and vibrant shopping and nightlife. 

Tel. 01744 742 011 www.investinsthelens.com 
*1 (East-West Location, October, 2005) *2 Barclays Bank 2007 *3 Sheffield University 2008 *4 Winner Best Chamber of Commerce 2007