UK leaps ahead in investment appeal

The UK has emerged as the second most attractive country for investment, surpassing Germany, China, and India, according to PwC’s annual CEO survey. The survey is seen as a “vote of confidence in the UK,” with 14% of global CEOs believing the UK will attract significant international investment, trailing only the US at 30%. Optimism among UK chief executives has increased, with 61% expecting economic growth in the next year, up from 39% in 2023. Despite concerns over rising debt and recent sluggish growth figures, over half of UK CEOs plan to expand their workforces. Marco Amitrano, senior partner at PwC UK, stressed the importance of maintaining a consistent government approach to business and investment, saying: “The UK’s relative stability at a time of instability should not be underestimated.” The survey included responses from 4,701 CEOs across 109 countries from October 1 to November 8, 2024.