NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) Commissioner Stuart McWhorter announced a strategic economic development trip to the United Kingdom. The objective of this trip is to strengthen relationships with European businesses and attract global investments to Tennessee, fostering economic growth and job creation in the state.
This trip marks Governor Lee’s first visit to the UK and his third international recruitment trip since assuming office in 2019. During the visit, Lee and McWhorter will attend the Farnborough International Airshow and meet with current and prospective businesses, including AMI Metals and Smith & Nephew, which already have operations in Tennessee.
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“Tennessee has earned a worldwide reputation as one of the best places to do business thanks to our booming economy, unmatched business climate, and skilled workforce,” said Governor Lee. “As states across the country compete for economic investment from leading global companies, this strategic mission is crucial in demonstrating why the Volunteer State is the top choice to succeed and grow. We look forward to strengthening relationships and securing new investment for the Volunteer State to create new jobs and even greater opportunity for Tennesseans.”
The state’s recruitment efforts are led by TNECD, which has five representatives across Europe and Asia who play a crucial role in international recruiting success.
“Relationship building takes time and is a critical component of the work we do as a department. We often hear that these relationships are the deciding factor for companies choosing to locate or expand in our state,” said Commissioner McWhorter. “Since visiting Italy and France last summer, we have tracked company commitments made in Tennessee as a direct result of meetings held during our recruitment trip. Since returning, I am proud to share that 533 new jobs have been created and more than $156 million has been invested by companies we met abroad like Schneider Electric and Landmark Ceramics, and we anticipate that these numbers will grow with future announcements stemming from our visit last year.”
Tennessee’s strategic economic development efforts have resulted in over $156 million in capital investment and 533 new job commitments from European companies such as Schneider Electric and Landmark Ceramics. In March, Schneider Electric announced plans to expand in Middle Tennessee by investing an additional $85 million and creating 450 new jobs, a direct outcome of Governor Lee and Commissioner McWhorter’s visit to their Paris headquarters in June 2023.
“At Schneider Electric, we recognize that strong, strategic partnerships with states are integral to create an impact in communities where we live, work and operate,” said Aamir Paul, President of North America Operations at Schneider Electric. “Our longstanding relationship with the State of Tennessee, which was reinforced during Governor Lee’s visit to Paris in 2023, underscores the importance of these connections. Engagements abroad, coupled with local connections, played a pivotal role in our decision to expand our operations in Tennessee, creating job opportunities and improving the lives of hundreds of Tennesseans.”
Currently, nearly 115 UK-based companies operate in Tennessee, employing more than 11,000 residents. Since Governor Lee took office in 2019, three UK-based projects have created 277 new jobs and generated $25.4 million in capital investment. These figures are expected to rise following the visit to the Farnborough International Airshow, which attracts over 75,000 global leaders in aerospace, aviation, and defense.
Tennessee’s growing aerospace and defense sector has seen significant growth since 2019, with approximately 2,200 new jobs created and more than $314 million in capital investment from major employers, including Smith & Wesson and West Star Aviation.
Learn more about Tennessee’s international economic development efforts here.
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