ENQUIRIES from businesses considering moving to the St Helens area have almost doubled compared with the previous two years since the launch in January this year of the new European-style St Helens Chamber of Commerce, Training and Enterprise Ltd.

Figures compiled by the chamber in association with St Helens Council show that the number of companies or individuals interested in relocating or setting-up businesses in the area was almost 300 in the period January to July.

This compares with a total for the year 1994 of the same figure and of just over 350 for the whole of 1995.

Recent statistics also show that in the last 18 months some 1,000 new jobs have been created with major property investments being made by such companies as J Sainsbury plc, Booker Belmont, McDonalds, the Book People and Whitbread Inns.

More than 1.5 million sq. ft. of land has been let or developed with prices having achieved as much as £150,000 per acre indicating a 'boom' unequalled since the turn of the century.

Carol Thompson, Inward Investment Manager for St Helens Chamber, said: "There is a positive and growing trend for companies to want to set up in the St Helens area as we can offer very good packages of grants, advice and assistance. Other attractions are an excellent availability of development land and properties and first-class accessibility to the national motorway network."

The release of the figures follows the recent announcement of a further £738,000 being made available in the St Helens for Small and Medium sized enterprises (SMEs) from the Acorn Fund through the Merseyside Special Investment Fund.

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