31/08/2012

Local Firms Urged To Take Their Business To Europe

Local companies can take their business to Europe and beyond by signing up for the council's latest business development programme.

The Exploring Exporting Programme is now open for recruitment to help small businesses and social enterprises enter markets outside of Northern Ireland for the first time.

Open to 10 businesses in the Belfast City Council area, this innovative programme will help participants increase their awareness of export opportunities and develop export trade skills.

The programme will start in October and will be delivered in two stages. Stage one will consist of tailored 'Doing Business In' information sessions, individual business mentoring and support with a pre-export action plan to help the businesses prepare to enter into new markets.

Five of the participants will then be selected through a competitive selection process to take part in stage two of the programme which will include an export market visit and a minimum of five pre-arranged meetings with potential new customers.

The five businesses will then receive six and a half days mentoring in preparation for their export market visit and through their export action plan, guidance through the first two years of exporting.

To be eligible for the Exploring Exporting Programme, you must be a small business or social enterprise in Belfast with less than 20 employees. You must also have no experience of trading in markets outside of Northern Ireland but wish to make exporting a key part of your growth strategy.

The closing date for applications is 28 September 2012.

(CD/GK)


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