Pictured: Sara Fowler

Ernst & Young has become the latest of the Big Four professional services firms to partner with Marketing Birmingham, the city's strategic marketing partnership, to support its drive to attract inward investment and businesses to the area. KPMG, Deloitte and PwC also recently partnered to support Business Birmingham, the area's inward investment programme, operated by Marketing Birmingham.

The firms will work with Business Birmingham to promote the city as a leading business destination, leveraging their international networks to spread the word and help the programme target investment from specific markets and sectors.

Sara Fowler, Senior Partner for the Midlands at Ernst & Young, said:

"Birmingham has a growing reputation as a place to do business on an international level. According to our annual European Attractiveness Survey, which ranks the appeal of locations for foreign direct investors, the Midlands was the most attractive destination for inward investment projects outside of London, with an increase of more than 35 per cent on 2010 figures.

"It is crucial that Birmingham capitalises on this growing appeal and, by working with Business Birmingham, we are looking forward to showcasing what the city has to offer on the global stage and supporting the programme's work in markets where we have a presence."

Chris Loughran, Senior Partner at Deloitte in the Midlands, said:

"Birmingham has so much to be proud of as a focus for international investment. We have a real enterprise culture, some great Universities, a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and flourishing professional services. We're also investing to make the city even more attractive - the £600m New St Gateway project being just an example.

"Birmingham can truly compete with leading business cities across the globe, so it is crucial that businesses come together to promote the city and its opportunities with a clear voice; Business Birmingham, with its focus on bringing in investment, is the vehicle to help the business community achieve this."

Mark Smith, Chairman of the Midlands practice of PwC, added:

"Helping to entice foreign businesses into Birmingham will be of benefit to the entire business community across the area, by creating jobs and growth opportunities for local supply chains. By working closely with Business Birmingham and drawing on our networks of international offices, we are all able to discuss the exciting developments taking place in Birmingham with our colleagues and clients and support in-market activity, for the long-term benefit of the city.

"As a sector with a major presence and workforce in the city, it is fitting that we support Business Birmingham's drive to bring more jobs and talent to the area."

The professional and financial services sector in Birmingham contributes £14 billion to the West Midlands region, with more than 242,000 people employed by 24,000 businesses.

Mike Steventon, Senior Partner of KPMG in Birmingham, commented:

"The Big Four are major employers within the region working with businesses of all sizes, and it is because of this that we are ideally positioned to help promote the benefits of locating or investing in the city. Birmingham has a lot to offer including its transport networks, high calibre graduates and skilled workforce."

The Big Four's partnership with Marketing Birmingham builds on the announcement at its Annual General Meeting (7th December) that the organisation has increased its membership by two thirds (60%) in the last 12 months, with the city's business community keen to support the organisation's work to bring investors to the area, while continuing to promote its diverse visitor offer through its leisure-focused campaigns.

Neil Rami, Chief Executive of Marketing Birmingham, added:

"That the Big Four have all become partners with Marketing Birmingham demonstrates the proactive, collaborative approach we are taking in promoting the city. By working closely with the business community we are able to add weight and value to our global drive for investment and boost Birmingham's reputation internationally. The appetite of the business community to support a co-ordinated investment drive and our work, shown in the 60% rise in our membership base, has been very encouraging and we are looking forward to building on it in the years to come."