Foreign Investment in the UK: Drivers and Brexit Impact

Foreign investment in the UK has been driven by the country's encouragement of immigrant businesses, creating jobs and boosting productivity. Inward investment has been a crucial part of the UK's business model, with foreign companies like BMW, Tata, and others making significant investments. For BMW, owning Rolls-Royce and Mini and establishing a large engine factory has led to direct and indirect employment of 8,000 and 25,000 people respectively. Vera Wei's educational travel company, Sloan Education, has capitalized on the demand for UK education from Chinese students, requiring local knowledge and contacts to match them with UK schools. Tata's diverse business interests, including TCS and Jaguar Land Rover, demonstrate their long-term commitment to UK operations. Brexit introduces uncertainty, deterring investment due to concerns about tariff and customs issues, but the UK's strengths like language, education, and skilled workforce still hold appeal.