Having been in a job for 14 years, Locate in Kent chief executive Paul Wookey does not have time for dilly dalliers.

Although a mild-mannered and easy-going kind of guy, Mr Wookey knows exactly what kind of companies he wants to move to Kent – and knows he can get them reasonably quickly from the US.

“The investors tend to be a lot more bullish and quicker at making their decisions,” said the Welshman, who was able to tell stakeholders 1,913 jobs were created through Locate in Kent negotiations in the six months to October.

The agency helped complete 28 successful moves or expansions over that period, with another 273 projects in the pipeline and 84 visits to the county so far.

“We have seen some very encouraging signs coming into this year, but we are cautious about what is ahead of us,” he said.

“We are doing well, but if we look to the future we need to have some cautious optimism.”

The US and northern Europe are where efforts to generate new leads are being focussed, mainly in the life sciences sector.

Locate in Kent spent two years getting Quvium, a US healthcare technology firm, to move to Discovery Park in Sandwich, creating 20 jobs.

They became the site’s 100th tenant since being taken over by its present owners Discovery Park Limited.

Locate in Kent met the company in Boston and brought them over numerous times.

“Once they set their sights on it and knew things were stacked in their favour, they were quick to make decisions,” said Mr Wookey, who lives in Canterbury.

“It is taking us longer to convert inquiries from European companies. The level of confidence isn’t as high from an investment point of view.

“The state of the European economy and individual member states shows there is no doubt we have come out of the recession much stronger.

“Back in their home countries, European firms are nervous about what is happening. We are generating very good quality inquiries, but it is a very different scenario.”

With 160 companies already based in Kent from the life sciences sector, employing more than 6,400 people, Mr Wookey makes no apologies for chasing these firms around the globe.

Doing so is also in line with central government’s priorities. George Osborne gave more tax credits to research and development companies in the autumn statement.

“If you look at the success Kent Science Park [in Sittingbourne] and Discovery Park are enjoying, and the breadth of companies they are attracting to both sites, it is not surprising that is a really important sector for us.

“It is a combination of the fact we have got two great locations, we have the financial incentives and we have a regulatory process which makes it easier for them to consider the UK as a European location.

“The state of the European economy and individual member states shows there is no doubt we have come out of the recession much stronger..." - Locate in Kent chief executive Paul Wookey

“Our transport connections to Europe are also an important selling point.”

Kent has attracted investment from the Arabic market, most notably with London Paramount, which has been backed by Kuwaiti European Holdings, owned by Ebbsfleet United chairman Dr Abdullah al-Humaidi.

However, their oil-rich investment potential is mainly being targeted by central government’s UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) department.

Mr Wookey said: “Some of the other big projects coming through in Kent will be of interest to some of the Arab sovereign wealth funds.

“I can’t say what beyond the Paramount project.”

Operating on a budget of £1m a year, Mr Wookey believes an influx of US life sciences business can do a lot to help the county’s rural economy, an area “where we can do more and should do more”.

He added: “There is a lot of crossover between what people regard as the rural economy and the life sciences. It has all become very sophisticated now and scientifically based.

“Beyond the normal processes of production, a lot of land owners and producers are looking for more efficient and sustainable ways of producing their goods.”

Mr Wookey admits the uncertainty caused by the general election is holding some
investors back but “compared to other parts of the UK and Europe we are in a much better phase coming out of the recession”.

He puts this down to HS1 and the opportunities that will come from building a garden city at Ebbsfleet, alongside the London Paramount project.

He said: “We are on a rising market and are cautiously optimistic. Still, so many decisions are going to be beyond our control.”

With so many projects in the pipeline, surely there is more reason to be cheerful about Kent’s economic future?

“I am always cautious,” he said. “You have to base what you say in reality and not over-promise and under-deliver.”