Business club for IFB2016 launched
A BUSINESS club which will help companies access thousands of potential deals during this summer’s International Festival for Business 2016 has been launched.
The free-to-join International Festival for Business Club will provide access to IFB2016’s Meet Your Future Deal programme, a digital matching service that will provide introductions to potential buyers, partners, investors and suppliers, offering a terrific opportunity to win new business.
Companies have been urged to register for the club as soon as possible and to provide the information needed so appointments with prospective buyers can be organised on their behalf during the event in Liverpool.
Around 6,000 face-to-face appointments are expected to be made through the Business Club over the three-week festival in June and is delivered in partnership with UK Trade & Investment, the GREAT Britain Campaign and with the support of the government.
The International Festival for Business Club will also enable businesses to access free advice from leading industry experts through the Meet Your Specialist Advisor programme.
Festival director Ian McCarthy said: “The International Festival for Business Club will create an easy to access route for businesses looking to engage with the festival.
“But more than that, we’ve created a virtual shop window, where businesses looking to do deals can showcase their products and services and connect with potential buyers, partners, investors and suppliers from all over the world in just a few easy steps. This offers unbeatable opportunities for ambitious SMEs who may lack an international network but are looking to take their companies to the next level and do deals on a regional, UK-wide or global scale.
“Alongside the explicit commercial opportunities the festival enables, companies also have the chance to take advantage of in-depth advice and support from experts in all stages of the export journey – from IP protection, to marketing, to logistics – via bespoke, one-to-one sessions.”
Specialist advice areas range from international market research to export tax, the tender process – including the latest export opportunities – to logistics, finance and legal. Advisors will represent organisations including UK Trade & Investment, Exporting is GREAT, British Library & Intellectual Property Centre and London Stock Exchange.
“As a result of IFB2014, we know that businesses benefited from the festival to the tune of £280m in new sales and investment deals and we’re expecting IFB2016 to be even more successful. This is a global, outwardly-focused festival and we want to really encourage UK SMEs to get involved, engage with the International Festival for Business Club and make the most of the plethora of opportunities that will present themselves,” McCarthy added.
Business Club activity sits at the core of the festival: delivering business opportunities, new customers, growth and enhanced prospects for SMEs both in the North of England and further afield.
The festival is supported by main partners HSBC and BT, global media partners Bloomberg and The Times and festival supporters Arup, DLA Piper, DONG Energy, Heathrow, PwC, Siemens and Virgin Trains.
Mark Fahy, head of UK Small & Mid-Cap Companies at the London Stock Exchange, one of the IFB2016 advisers, said: “London Stock Exchange Group is committed to championing UK business because we understand the positive impact fast growing companies have on the economic prosperity of our country.
“The International Festival for Business has become one of the premier events dedicated to showcasing the UK’s most exciting firms and their ability to transform the economic landscape of Britain and beyond.”
Click here to sign up to the IFB2016 Business Club.
