International Export Opportunities for Local Businesses

With the Chinese authorities announcement this weekend that it is going to be more flexible in it's management of it's exchange rate, Asian stock markets rose this weekend. China has been under increased international pressure as many felt that they kept the value of the yuan artificially low to aid it's exporting businesses. Coupled with the fact that the euro has fallen 17% against the dollar - and in effect the yuan - since the European debt crisis began in December, China's exports have become less attractive.

So what does this mean for our local businesses in the South Thames Gateway? What does it mean for sterling and has it made overseas trading more attractive? What's more, how does a firm learn about the joys and pitfalls of exporting, decide if it is going to export to Dublin or Dubai or understand what the effect of the Chinese yuan is going to have on future profitability?

In conjunction with Business Link East and UK Trade & Investment, Knowledge Thurrock Innovation Associates is hosting a free event on Wednesday 21st July. This interactive workshop will be aimed at owner/managers who want to expand their customer base across Europe and beyond. Entitled "International Export Opportunities for Local Businesses" subjects covered will include market entry strategies and modes, help available from the UK government & other business support initiatives and tips for researching new markets.

If you would like some more information about this event, please call Richard on 07500 802 311 or email at r.a.snell@uel.ac.uk

Futuresource

On the back of my visit to Ikea Lakeside I really have caught the travel-bug and so this week I had the opportunity to visit Futuresource at ExCel on Docklands. I went along with Phil from EUREKA, the London-based sister business-support project to Knowledge Thurrock Innovation Associates. That's Phil in the picture stood beside his dream car, a diesel powered Dulevo 850 - with that sweet ride he is sure to cut a dash on his morning commute in from Essex.

Futuresource is Europe's sustainability event and houses over 350 exhibitors and attracts over 9000 attendees. Stands promote goods and services ranging from JCB earth movers, ethical investment advisers, products for the waste, recycling & sustainable marketplace and environmental consultancy. By far the best reason for attending however is the 60+ free seminars covering a wide range of topics from communications and professional development, through food waste and packaging, to new technologies and the delivery of new waste infrastructure.

For me, by far the best seminars were delivered by WRAP and I learned about Defra's Zero Waste Places initiative and the additional benefits of working with communities to improve resource re-use. I also learned about Anaerobic Digesters which is the new name for what was my Grandad's old compost corner. The sector as a whole is a lot more advanced now, in fact Germany (the Jolly Green Giant) is now growing energy on maize farms.

There were a couple of gems throughout the presentation but if there is one thing that I ask any reader of this blog to do, is to sign up to the Mail Preference Service which will immediately cut down on the amount of junk mail that is sent to you. Less hassle and less carbon = everybody wins.

Swedish sense

On Friday I was kindly invited to attend an awareness-raising event for Social Enterprise at Ikea. I was there with Dave from TRUP, Anthony from BigBarn and a few others to get the message out about recycling, reuse and buying your produce locally.

Whilst there I spoke with Maree who has been at Lakeside IKEA since before it was built (she worked in the site-office when the shop was being constructed) and she was telling me about the new scheme that they have running. Basically, if you've been working for Ikea for more than 12 months, you can apply to take a 6-month backpacking trip to either South Africa or Vietnam and still receive full-pay. Whilst there you've to help out with a community support project but what a fantastic opportunity to see a different life?

We then talked about the World Cup and the effect that it will have on staff-sickness days - yet again Ikea are taking a far more pro-active approach on this and telling their employees to take a holiday day or some unpaid leave and the store will be operated by a skelenton staff. It makes perfect sense and really allows them to plan their resources most effectively.

Clearly at Ikea, it's not just the hotdogs and kitchens which are good