A survey aimed at decision-makers across Plymouth and the wider South West has been launched by law firm Womble Bond Dickinson to find out on how the new Plymouth freeport will impact on their activities.
Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has recently seen a surge in inquiries from clients and regional business groups keen to learn more about the opportunities and implications that freeports will bring and how they can prepare.
The and will measure business sentiment across a range of different sectors to find out how much businesses know about the benefits and opportunities that freeports can offer.
The law firm, which has a large base in Plymouth鈥檚 Millbay waterfront area, hopes to get an understanding of what businesses in the region are planning, as well as levels of awareness generally, so steps can be taken if necessary to help drive engagement with the process.
The 海角视频-wide survey comes following the Government鈥檚 announcement in the Budget in March 2021. The Chancellor confirmed the eight freeport locations across the country, including the successful bid in Plymouth, which will be and which the law firm saluted, with Craig Moore, partner and head of WBD's Plymouth office, saying: "A freeport in Plymouth is excellent news for the regeneration of the area and will support our region's post Covid-19 economic and social recovery.
鈥淭he new status is set to bring millions of pounds of investment, create around 10,000 new jobs as well as support some of the 海角视频's key sectors such as transport, infrastructure, clean energy and, in particular manufacturing, which is very strong here.
"Drawing on clear evidence from successful freeports around the world, the Government's proposed model for freeports present a range of tax incentives, planning and other regulatory flexibilities that are designed to encourage businesses to open, expand and invest in the zone.
鈥淭hrough a combination of these measures, the Government鈥檚 objectives are to create, right here in Plymouth, a hub for global trade and investment, promote regeneration, boost employment and create hotbeds for innovation and new technologies to support a clean and sustainable economy."
Peter Snaith, partner and head of manufacturing at WBD, said: 鈥淲BD has been tracking the developments in relation to freeports in the 海角视频 for several years and providing legal support and guidance to stakeholders in relation to the Teesside Freeport bid since the Government's launch of the initiative."
鈥淲e can see the potential for freeports to strengthen the regions we operate in up and down the country. We represent all manner of clients who stand to benefit from freeports in some way and our team is keen to help deliver the Government's objectives for the country.
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Business Live's South West Business Reporter is William Telford. William has more than a decade's experience reporting on the business scene in Plymouth and the South West. He is based in Plymouth but covers the entire region.
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鈥淲e represent many of the inward investors that have moved into the parts of the country where we have been based for many decades.
鈥淔ollowing the March Budget announcement and as an extension of the support we have been giving to businesses with respect to the challenges surrounding the import and export of goods following Brexit, we have had a surge in questions surrounding freeports and freezones, particularly about the future effects this will have for businesses and what owners and managers located on or around the new freeports should be doing to make the most of their situations.
鈥淲e decided that a survey would be a great way of discovering business sentiment as it鈥檚 very clear to us that businesses need guidance and information around the process and how, for example, they can access certain similar benefits if they are not located within a freeport customs site.
鈥淭here is, understandably, a lack of appreciation of the potential to which the positive effects of the new freeports can extend to businesses that are not situated on one of the designated sites.鈥
The results of the survey will provide the team with key findings to compile a comprehensive report for businesses and also public bodies associated with freeport bids that will provide industry opinion and guidance on next steps. To complete the survey click .
