In a new report on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) the UKTI found that energy and infrastructure contributed almost 310, or 17.5 per cent, of the UK’s record 2013/14 FDI projects.
Of the 310 energy and infrastructure projects 61 were in renewable energy while 52 were oil and gas projects.
“There has been a significant rise in energy and infrastructure projects this year, with the number of investments in this industry group rising by nearly a quarter in 2013/14,” said the report.
“These investments are estimated to have brought with them a total of 31,261 jobs, the second largest after the advanced manufacturing group.”
The utilities sector attracted 6 per cent of FDI, the report found; in line with oil, pharmaceuticals and chemicals but behind mining (9 percent).
The largest concentration of FDI was found to be in financial services at 45 per cent of the total.
The report found that last year the UK attracted more inward investment projects than ever previously recorded, which are estimated to create the highest number of new jobs since 2001.
But minister of state for trade and investment Ian Livingston said the UK can do more.
“We intend to attract more investments that create significant numbers of jobs, exports and value add. We will strive to make the UK the number one choice for investment from emerging markets, to innovate and find new ways to attract new investors,” he said.