Export Hub comes to Birmingham

The Department for International Trade’s (DIT) Export Hub is making a week-long stop in the West Midlands next week, with the aim of helping businesses realise their global ambitions.

A series of free events is being held as part of the roadshow, which take places between February 6 and 9 and will offer a range of advice to companies that want to start exporting or increase their international reach. It will also provide opportunities for one-to-one meetings with international trade experts and give businesses the chance to learn about new export markets.

The hub – a 32-tonne truck that has been transformed into a one-stop export shop – is travelling around the country as part of a Government’s Exporting is GREAT campaign to encourage businesses to think global.

Christine Hamilton, acting regional director of DIT West Midlands, said:

“Businesses across the region are already exporting their goods and services successfully and we want even more to benefit from going global. Our advisers have the knowledge, contacts and experience to offer tangible and valuable support to businesses of all sizes, so visiting the Export Hub could be the first step in realising long-held ambitions to trade internationally. We look forward to welcoming as many people as possible over the week.”

On Monday, 6 February, the Export Hub will be stationed at iCentrum, Innovation Birmingham Campus, Holt Street, Birmingham. From 10:00-12:30, DIT experts will be joined by Barclays and the Royal Mail Group, advising on e-commerce opportunities in China.

An hour-long, drop-in business growth clinic will take place from 12.45, which will enable visitors to meet finance, trade, and language and culture specialists, identify overseas buyers and markets.

The afternoon session, from 14:00-16:00, will be an interactive digital workshop with Barclays and the DIT, which will advise on a range of digital tools for business.

On Tuesday, 7 February, the Hub will be on the car park at the rear of The Physician pub, Highfield Road, Edgbaston, between 11:00 and 14:30. The DIT team will be joined by the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Greater Birmingham & Solihull Growth Hub and businesses can discover the range of support that is on offer, enjoy a networking lunch and talk to experts in areas such as export documentation, translations and the Enterprise Europe Network.

On Wednesday, 8 February, from 08:30-10:30, the Export Hub will travel to Birmingham International Airport to host a business breakfast and networking event with bmi regional, including a talk from bmi regional’s chief commercial officer Jochen Schnadt about the airline’s new hub at Birmingham International Airport.

On Thursday, 9 February, the Export Hub stops at the NEC to coincide with the Spring Fair, the leading gift and home trade event. It will highlight the upcoming DIT Export Insight Visit (EIV) to the Czech Republic, which is exclusively for consumer sector companies including retail, fashion, creative and giftware. This event is a must for businesses that have already registered to attend the visit but would also benefit companies who would like to find out more and meet the team before confirming their space.

Any company interested in breaking into overseas markets, and taking advantage of the global appetite for UK goods and services, should visit the new online trade hub, great.gov.uk, part of the Government’s Exporting is GREAT initiative.

great.gov.uk is a single digital destination for trade and investment, bringing together and connecting UK businesses, international buyers and international investors. Whether businesses are new, occasional or frequent exporters, they will be able to take advantage of the new suite of tools and exclusive deals on fees or commissions with some of world’s leading online marketplaces.

For further details on all the Export Hub events in Birmingham, visit exporthubwestmids.eventbrite.com

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