Event Will Equip Business With Digital Tools For Overseas Growth
Only one in five businesses in London and the South East who are expanding internationally have multilingual web pages and are missing out on overseas business opportunities.
According to research by Grow Global, experts dedicated to helping companies grow overseas, many SMEs are struggling to get a good optimised UK website in English in place, let alone go international.
Government exporting body UK Trade & Investment offers an Export Communications Review that provides small and medium-sized UK companies with impartial and objective advice on how to improve international communication.
Director of Grow Global and London consultant for the Export Communications Review, Sarah Carroll, says more firms should take advantage of the support. She said:“It is alarming how few businesses are developing an international website and missing out using it as a new channel to global markets.“
There is a whole world out there on the web that many firms simply don’t tap into. Simple steps can be taken by any company wanting to expand internationally.
“Having an international website and optimising it gives firms almost instant results.” London firm, Mathmos, the company that invented the lava lamp and designs and markets a range of other innovative lighting, sells through the web to over 20 countries around the world. They have set up local websites in many countries, allowing customers anywhere in Europe to buy from them in their local language & their local currency.
And Powerbronze, from Littlehampton, Sussex, a company that provides high quality motorbike components and accessories, had a massive increase in US web sales after optimising one of their many international websites. They also made a decision to enter the French market with a sole distributor administering their French retail website.
Grow Global will be among industry experts providing workshops on maximising the benefits of website and social media tools at a dedicated event on 18 October 2012. Run by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) the Digital Tools for International Expansion event will be held at the Park Plaza, Victoria on Thursday, 18 October 2012 from 9am-5pm.
Parveen Thornhill, UKTI London Regional Director explained: “This event will help companies internationalise their website and attract overseas visitors and ultimately boost business.“ Our dedicated team of International Trade Advisers are working with Export Communications Consultants, like Sarah, to provide support on appealing to overseas web visitors including giving advice on local markets and cultures that can be used to localise websites.”
Notes to Editors
Export Communications Review
The Export Communications Review (ECR) is a key service from UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the United Kingdom Government’s lead organisation for supporting UK companies in overseas business. An Export Communications Review provides small and medium-sized UK companies with impartial and objective advice on how to improve international communication, attract more international visitors to websites and increase competitiveness in existing and future export markets. It builds confidence and know-how in trading successfully with overseas customers. British companies can benefit from a programme of subsidised Export Communications Reviews to support the development of business with export markets. Each ECR will assess one component of international communications, typically covering:
marketing, operational or training materials
personal meetings and face-to-face presentations
preparation for a trade exhibition
the website.
An independent accredited export communications consultant will discuss how they currently handle international communication with global clients, agents, distributors and overseas partners. They will identify communication strengths and weaknesses, highlighting language and cultural issues. Each ECR includes:
A 2-3 hour visit to the company by an accredited consultant
A thorough assessment of communications against international best practice
A full written report with recommendations for action.
ECR Masterclasses
Greater London Enterprises has signed a contract with UKTI to deliver web optimisation masterclasses around the country. This award is an extension of GLE’s existing contract to deliver the ECRs and GLE is expected to deliver several half-day masterclasses in each English region, anticipating audiences of 20 or so delegates at each event. At the Masterclasses, delegates will learn how to build and optimise a website that will generate a higher volume of international web traffic and gain new business from overseas customers.
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI)
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the Government Department that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy. We also help overseas companies bring their high quality investment to the UK’s economy – acknowledged as Europe’s best place from which to succeed in global business. UKTI offers expertise and contacts through its extensive network of specialists in the UK, and in British embassies and other diplomatic offices around the world. We provide companies with the tools they require to be competitive on the world stage. UKTI has teams based in London and the South East, dedicated to increasing the competitiveness of SMEs in the capital & the south east through international sales development. A team of International Trade Advisers, part-financed by the European Union, delivers tailored help to businesses who are either exporting for the first time or looking to enter new markets.