DORSET has been recognised as one of the top 10 regions for inward investment across Europe.

The county has been marked as a ‘region of the future’ by fDi Intelligence Magazine, produced by the Financial Times and distributed globally to international investors and companies looking to expand into foreign countries.

The county has been recognised as a Top 10 Small European Region of the Future 2014 and is also listed in the Top 25 European Regions of the Future.

Other places ranked as a Top 10 Small European Region include Copenhagen, Bristol, Bath, and Zurich.

The award was given after submissions were made to fDi Intelligence Magazine.

This is a first for Dorset and recognises councils’ work with the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership to support local owned businesses and attract new foreign owned businesses to the area.

In addition to the article and entries in the fDi Intelligence Magazine and website, the area will be promoted and celebrated at international property and business growth events in Cannes and Kuala Lumpur in March.

Cllr Ian Munro-Price, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council Economic Development brief holder, said: “It is fantastic news that the borough and Dorset have been recognised in the Top 10 of Small European Regions of the Future 2014 by fDi Intelligence Magazine.

“This sort of recognition really puts Weymouth, Portland and the rest of Dorset on the map as somewhere to create or expand business.”

Gordon Page, Chairman of Dorset LEP welcomed the award, and added: "It is brilliant to see that Dorset has been recognised as an up and coming investment location for business."