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Project part-financed by the European Union
Over 700 Yorkshire and Humber business leaders attended a unique international business event in the region to hear Sir Alan Sugar explain how entering the global marketplace could help to grow their business.
The no-nonsense founder of Amstrad and boss of BBC’s The Apprentice headlined Yorkshire Forward’s Going Global Conference in Harrogate, designed to give businesses practical advice and support on entering international markets and exporting. A video showing Sir Alan’s advice for businesses can be viewed using the link below.
Sir Digby Jones, Minister of State for Trade and Investment also took the opportunity to record a special message for Yorkshire and Humber businesses, which was screened at the event. This can also be viewed using the link below.
The event, which was hosted in partnership with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), included exhibits from key players including DLA Piper, KPMG and HM Revenue & Customs, each offering expert advice to help businesses maximise international opportunities and minimise the associated risk of entering new markets. It also included presentations from business expert Allyson Stewart-Allen and futurologist James Bellini, which can be viewed below.
Representatives from regional businesses who have already taken the plunge into international trade and used UKTI support to achieve success provided an insight into their experiences and advice was available through various masterclasses covering issues such as managing agents and marketing overseas.
Tom Riordan, chief executive of Yorkshire Forward explained: “Although the region cannot influence global economic conditions, Yorkshire Forward is taking responsibility for managing the impact of the current situation on the ground and is giving our regional businesses as many tools as possible to help them continue to grow their operations."
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Sir Alan Sugar, Key Speaker - View Video After leaving school at 16 to sell car aerials and electrical goods from the back of a van, Sir Alan Sugar has now accumulated an estimated fortune of £830m and was ranked 92nd in the Sunday Times Rich List 2008. Sir Alan is a Government Advisor on Enterprise and has built an impressive portfolio of several international businesses including Amsair, Amstrad, Amshold, Amsprop and Viglen. He is well-known by many for starring in the BBC TV series The Apprentice. |
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Lord Digby Jones, Minister of State for Trade & Investment - View Video Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham, was appointed Minister for Trade & Investment in the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in June 2007. Prior to this he served as Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry, known as the UK’s ‘Voice of Business’. Lord Digby has travelled extensively around the world promoting and developing UK business overseas and is also patron of UK Trade & Investment’s popular event, the International Business Network (IBN). |
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Dr James Bellini, Futurologist - Download presentation (1mb PDF)  James is a leading futurologist and has spent more than 25 years as a respected TV broadcaster, futures analyst and writer with a strong focus on social, economic and technological trends up to Horizon 2025. He has presented the BBC’s Money Programme, Newsnight and Panorama. |
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Allyson Stewart-Allen, Director, International Marketing Partners - Download presentation (179kb PDF) Allyson is an internationally renowned business expert and media personality with expertise in the fields of international marketing, US business and inter-cultural working. She is co-author of the best selling book ‘Working with Americans’, the first ever business manual exclusively about the US business culture. |
If you missed any of the master classes on the day, or would like to view the presentations again, they are now available for download below.
Master Class 1 - Download presentation (828kb PDF)
Market Research – finding the right markets for your products
Richard Gilbert and Eve Husband, research advisors, British Chambers of Commerce
Master Class 2 - Download presentation (1mb PDF)
Setting up Overseas Operations – from rep office to joint ventures
Charles Kaye, executive director, Cummins Turbo Technologies
Peter Buckley, professor of international business, Leeds University Business School
Master Class 3 - Download presentation (120kb PDF)
Managing Agents & Distributors – how do you find them and what do you do with them?
Simon Bedford, overseas joint ventures & investment, UK Trade & Investment
Master Class 4 - Download presentation (4mb PDF)
Marketing Overseas
Jonathan Sands, managing director, Elmwood
Our online tool can help you find potential export markets for your industry. Simply click on your sector and follow the instructions on screen to discover the international opportunities available to your business.
Click here to launch the interactive business opportunities tool.
To find out more about internationalising your business contact one of our advisers who will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.
