High level background brochure on UKTI services.

1. Your springboard for global growth
an overview of uK trade & investment services
Part of the UK Government’s portfolio
of Solutions for Business

2. Embracing international business
opportunities is vital to maintaining
a leading edge and ensuring
future prosperity.

3. MaxiMise
your global
potential
we are witnessing an age of unprecedented
change which presents challenges and
opportunities of unparalleled scale for the
uK and other countries around the world.
in this period of increasing global economic
uncertainty, it is more important than ever that
businesses, whatever their country of origin,
raise their game to stay ahead of the
competition, increase their bottom line
and guarantee their future.
growing your business internationally could
well provide the answer that you are looking for.
uK trade & investment (uKti) can help you
every step of the way. it is a springboard for
global growth.
left: the petronas twin towers,
Kuala lumpur, malaysia
1

4. “I am a great believer in UKTI activities.
They are the catalyst that makes us
go out and explore opportunities in
far-flung markets.”
Dave Crump, Managing Director, Avesco Group

5. best For
business
The UK is a world-class location
for international business. Its
And companies from outside
the UK are increasingly choosing
for every £1 that
vibrant and diversified economy to locate or expand here, attracted uKti spends, £15
and unique combination of
success, confidence, innovation,
not only by the strength and
stability of the UK market,
is generated for
quality and ambition make it a but recognising that it is also the uK economy.
truly global economic powerhouse. a jump-off point to further
international growth.
Competition in the world of
international trade is increasingly With the clock now ticking to
fierce and we are experiencing an the opening of the 2012 Olympic
era of change, new opportunities Games in London, the eyes of the
and economic turbulence. The UK world are firmly on the UK. This
is embracing these new challenges provides a perfect platform for UK
and cementing its position companies to showcase their
as a world leader. expertise and do business in
overseas markets, and for firms
Building on the country’s proud
across the globe to make the most
history as a leading trading
of all that the UK has to offer.
nation, UK companies recognise
the importance of competing
in a globalised economy and of
becoming leaders in their field, not
just at home but across the world.
left: business people, beijing, china
3

6. building prosperity Our clients cite consistently the
importance of UKTI support in adding value
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI)
helping them to overcome barriers independent research
can help you take advantage
to new overseas business and shows that:
of these opportunities. As the
UK Government’s international enabling them to improve their – for every £1 that uKti spends,
business development business performance. £15 is generated for the
organisation, working in close Our trade development services uK economy,
partnership with the English can make a real difference to your – over a 12-month period, uKti
Regional Development Agencies business. The first consultation helped over 12,000 companies
and the Devolved Administrations with a UKTI adviser can normally overcome barriers to entering
in Scotland, Wales and Northern be arranged very quickly and is new markets,
Ireland, we can give you the completely free of charge. The – uKti’s estimated total
support that you need to help cost of subsequent packages of financial benefit to
your business grow and prosper. support is then based on the businesses across all trade
Boasting an unrivalled network individual requirements for your services is around £3 billion
of specialist advisers throughout business and the amount of detail each year,
the UK and in British embassies needed, and will always offer – each uKti service generates
and other diplomatic posts across significant value for money. over £100,000 in estimated
the globe, we build the capacity Understanding our customers’ benefits per customer, and
of UK exporters, both new and needs is vital.
– more than 3,000 companies
experienced, by offering strategic increased r&d activity in the
impartial advice and research, uK as a result of uKti support
political support in overseas in 2007/08.
markets, introductions to key
contacts and assistance with
promotional activities.
“the support of uK trade & investment has
enabled us to take a fast-track route to
success. when you go into a new market,
you need to do so with knowledge. uK trade
& investment has provided that for us.
this support is not only highly cost-effective,
but also totally reliable.”
peter blezard, Chief executive, plant impact plc
4

7. £100,000
uKti’s services
generate an average
of £100,000 additional
profit per customer.
case study
Defence and security
tavcom training
dedicated hampshire security and surveillance training company
tavcom is branching out in the usa after carrying out in-depth
research with uK trade & investment.
director of training mike tennent said: “it’s important to approach
export with your eyes open and we wanted to minimise our risk
by doing our homework properly.
“the guidance we received from uKti on who to speak to in the
usa and how to assess the wider economic issues was invaluable
and allowed us to take a very structured and focused approach to
our research, which told us that there was a real gap in the market
in the states.”
consequently, tavcom developed a clear and well-devised
market-entry strategy, which has led to it delivering training
courses for a major supplier of technical products, design and
installation staff at atlanta airport, important opening training
programmes with the us department of homeland security and,
through a partnership with a local business, establishing a
professional training centre in california.
“without uK trade & investment, we would not have been able to
approach this opportunity with such certainty,” concluded mike.
www.tavcom.com
5

8. For international businesses Every year, we help hundreds
currently outside the UK or of overseas firms, from hi-tech facts
firms who have chosen to locate start-ups to global industry – in 2007, the uK was the
here, UKTI leads and guides an leaders, discover global growth top global defence exporter,
inward investment network from a UK base. with a record £10 billion of
comprising ourselves, English new business.
Innovative, professional,
Regional Development Agencies, – london is europe’s largest
entrepreneurial and customer-
International Business Wales, international banking centre,
focused, no other organisation
Invest Northern Ireland and with an estimated 41 per cent
is better equipped to support
Scottish Development of all the eu’s financial services.
globally minded companies,
International. The network – the uK is a world leader in
both big and small, saving them
works with inward investors at university r&d, with more
valuable time and money in the
all stages of their decision-making scientific research papers per
process. Let us help you be the
cycle, becoming their advocate head than the usa, germany,
best, too.
in government and with other france or Japan.
public bodies.
– eight of the world’s top
ten largest management
consulting firms – based on
fee income – are from the uK.
– the uK is number one
for headquarter operations
in europe.
case study
advanced engineering
trac precision machining ltd
uK trade & investment helped the company, part of the trac and introduced it to senior
trac precision machining, a group, has chosen guayamas, local government officials to
crewe-based designer and in the state of sonora, as the ensure it received the best-
manufacturer of complex airfoil location for the new facility, possible incentives.
components, to decide to set up after discussions with the local
business development director
an operation in mexico as part of authorities. this came after the
scott mawby said: “the decision
its expansion plans to reach new uK trade & investment office in
to go to mexico was driven by our
markets. the facility will monterrey provided objective
customers requiring a us-dollar
manufacture turbine blades for analysis on the aerospace sector
source and a lower-cost base for
commercial jet engines and in mexico, accompanied trac
components.”
power-generation equipment. group in its pre-visit to sonora
to review the site selection www.trac-group.com
6

9. In 2007, the UK was the top global
defence exporter, with a record £10 billion
of new business.
raf tornado f3 in its rubb hanger

10. facts
– the uK is the world’s
second-largest exporter
of tv programmes.
– the uK has the top four
universities in europe.
– london is the global centre
for emissions trading.
– uK scientists have been
awarded over 70 nobel prizes
in scientific disciplines.
– the uK has the highest
number of leading mba
courses in europe.
– l ondon is the world capital
case study for wi-fi hotspot use, racking
logistics up four times as many wi-fi
amazon sessions as new York
and chicago.
in april 2008, iconic global company amazon, headquartered
in seattle, opened a new logistics centre in swansea, creating
2,700 jobs over the next five years.
the facility, which is roughly the size of ten football pitches,
is the internet shopping business’s largest base in the uK, and was
brought to swansea thanks to a close partnership between amazon
and international business wales, part of the welsh assembly
government and uK trade & investment’s partner
in the principality.
wales’s first minister rhodri morgan said: “this is an extremely
important investment, creating thousands of new jobs. other
e-economy companies will sit up and take notice of amazon’s
decision to opt for wales and the impressive turnaround time.
“the speed of delivery of this project has been exceptional, taking
just 16 months from the initial approaches between amazon and the
assembly government to the opening of this megafacility.
“it is a powerful shot in the arm for the welsh economy and the
swansea bay area in particular. i am proud of the role that the
assembly government has played in attracting amazon to wales.
partnership has been the key to this success.”
www.amazon.com
8

11. “the help we have
received from uK trade
& investment has been
excellent. it puts you
in touch with the right
people so that you can
win orders.”
nigel rogers, Managing Director, lyncolec
9

12. UK Trade & Investment aims to be the
springboard for success by providing a
range of unique export support services.

13. enriChing
exporters
When UK companies do
business overseas, they benefit
in regional, lesser-known centres
too. If Team GB’s world-beating
uKti’s estimated total
the UK economy by increasing Olympians and Paralympians can financial benefit to
productivity, competitiveness and
innovation. Internationally active
succeed with such style in Beijing,
then there is no reason why you
businesses across all
firms achieve a level of growth not can’t follow suit! trade services is around
otherwise possible, utilise their
capacity more effectively, reduce
UKTI aims to be the springboard £3 billion each year.
for this success by providing
their dependence on a single or
a range of unique trade
small number of markets, become
support services.
exposed to new ideas and increase
the commercial life span of their Whether you are venturing into
products or services. selling overseas for the first time,
or are an experienced exporter
That is why UK Trade & Investment
trying to break into new markets,
(UKTI) is so dedicated to helping
these services, including support
UK exporters in global markets.
for participation at selected trade
Despite intense competition, fairs and outward missions, advice
UK products, services and on communicating overseas and
expertise continue to be in bespoke market intelligence,
demand across the world, and can help make doing business
opportunities are more plentiful internationally be as easy as doing
than ever before. This is business in the UK.
particularly true in high-growth
markets such as Brazil, Russia,
India and China, whose dynamic
economies provide a wealth of
prospects for UK firms in the
coming decades, not just in their
established cities, but increasingly
left: aircraft undercarriage
11

14. how uKti Can
help you...
Developing your – specialist help with tackling
cultural and language issues
uKti can help make
international when communicating with doing international
trade potential overseas customers and partners,
business as easy
UKTI’s services assist companies
– advice on how to go about
market research and the possibility
as doing business
with tailored training, planning of a grant towards approved in the uK.
and support to help them prepare market research projects,
to succeed overseas. Getting
started in international trade can – ongoing support to help your
be tough – there’s a lot to learn business continue to develop
and often a lot at stake. That’s overseas trade and look at
why it helps to have top-quality, dealing with more sophisticated
cost-effective advice and support. activities or markets, and
UKTI can provide: – advice on a range of international
trade help available from UKTI
– an export health check to and others.
assess your company’s trade
development needs and help
develop a plan of action,
– training in the requirements
for trading overseas,
– access to an experienced local
International Trade Adviser,
“since working with uK trade & investment,
we have gone from strength to strength.
Year-on-year sales growth has been
significant, key markets have been opened,
strategic alliances have been formed and
business generated. the experience has
been so incredibly positive.”
andrew eborn, president and Ceo, octopus Media technology
12

15. the uK is a world
leader in university
r&d, with more
scientific research
papers per head than
the usa, germany,
france or Japan.
case study
life science
integrated technologies ltd (itl)
flourishing ashford-based firm itl, which specialises in the
contract design, development and manufacture of instruments for
use throughout the life science sector, recently opened a factory in
Jinqiao, china, after receiving help from uK trade & investment.
uKti provided support with areas such as documentation, the
preparation and translation of brochures, and advice on china’s
business culture and environment.
“when you’re attempting to do this sort of thing for the first time,
you need a lot of support,” said managing director tom cole.
“we talked with uKti in the early stages of this project and very
soon began to feel the benefit, receiving invaluable advice on
aspects of who to contact in china, how best to progress the
project and how to tackle bureaucracy. our international trade
adviser worked tremendously hard on our behalf.
“we commissioned an overseas market introduction service
report from uKti, which gave us really good contacts and led
to our identifying five key suppliers in china. one of these is now
our partner, and in June we opened our new Jinqiao facility.”
he concluded: “we are confident that it will lead to continued
robust growth that will benefit not only our customer, but also
everyone in our company, both in the uK and in china.”
www.itl.co.uk
13

16. how uKti Can
help you...
accessing world-beating network with 1,300 staff across
international In England, our services are
accessed and delivered through all key global markets,
markets local UKTI International Trade no other organisation is
Teams located in each of the nine
Once the initial homework has English regions. In Scotland, Wales
better equipped to help
been done, UKTI assists new and and Northern Ireland, they are companies do business
experienced exporters with
information, help and advice on
delivered in co-operation with the
respective national development
internationally.
entering overseas markets. To be agencies (Scottish Development
a successful exporter you need International, International
to travel to your target markets Business Wales and Invest
and build lasting commercial Northern Ireland).
relationships with your clients and
partners. This is not always easy, UKTI, which, as well as offering its
but UKTI can help you with own services, also helps to fund a
practical assistance before you number of export programmes run
go and ongoing help while by partner organisations, has
you’re there. world-beating knowledge and
expertise across key markets and
Our services include:
industry sectors, with in-depth
– information, contacts, advice, strategies in place for priority areas
mentoring and support from such as ICT, energy, life sciences,
UKTI staff at home and overseas advanced engineering, financial
in our network of embassies, services, healthcare and the
consulates and other offices creative industries.
in over 100 markets,
Central to everything is our
– support to participate in trade
close and enduring relationships
fairs overseas,
with our valued customers,
– opportunities to participate relationships that can open the
in sector-based trade missions door to a whole new world.
and seminars,
Whatever your size and level of
– access to major buyers,
experience and wherever in the
governments and supply
world you want to sell, talking
chains in overseas markets,
to UKTI is one of the best moves
– advice on forming international your company can make. We’ll help
joint ventures and partnerships, you research overseas markets,
– exploratory visits to new gain the necessary international
markets, and trade skills, identify opportunities
– alerts to the latest and best and turn them into real business.
business opportunities.
14

17. “uKti also organised a
briefing, which really helped
us to understand our brazilian
customers in terms of both cultural
and commercial differences.”
case study
energy
elstat electronics ltd
preston-based firm elstat, which “we then joined a uK trade “we already have an order of
designs and builds environmentally & investment trade mission to £907,000 annually and have just
friendly systems that can brazil and found this an excellent received our first call-off to the
dramatically reduce the costs way to further our business. value of £350,000. we are also
incurred by running fridges and the trip gave us a real fast track negotiating more orders,
refrigerated cabinets, has to brazil and what drives the including an ongoing enquiry
enjoyed lucrative success in economy there. from a brazilian beer giant,
brazil after consulting with uK worth around £8 million, and
“uKti also organised a
trade & investment advisers. are hoping to see considerable
briefing, which really helped
volume growth in latin america
“a uKti specialist was able us to understand our brazilian
in the future.”
to explain the latin american customers in terms of both
approach to taxation and put cultural and commercial he concluded: “i would definitely
us in touch with many helpful differences, and this enabled recommend that other companies
people,” explained commercial us to move relationships on interested in doing business
director mark ratcliffe. more quickly and efficiently. in latin america contact uKti
uKti’s help allowed us to to see what help is available
secure business on a much to them.”
clearer basis and helped us
www.elstat.co.uk
tie our plans together quickly
and efficiently.
15

18. “If UKTI hadn’t been involved… I think I’d
have stayed thinking that I was really small
and the world was really big and the path
from one to the other was impossible.”
Carol Thompson, Director, Star Learning

20. what our business customers say about us
independently conducted business surveys tell us
that uKti’s support helps them to:
– understand how to do – improve overseas
business overseas, marketing strategy,
– identify opportunities – gain access to
and open doors, information not
– reach customers/ otherwise available,
business partners not – understand the
otherwise accessible, competition,
– raise their profile and – access powerful
credibility overseas, research to inform
– overcome barriers to management
entry or expansion, decisions, and
– have the confidence
to explore or expand
in overseas markets.
“the groundwork uK trade & investment
undertakes to help us progress [export]
initiatives is utterly invaluable.”
Kevin slater, Co-founder, petscreen ltd
18

21. case study
sport and leisure infrastructure
innovision
uK trade & investment support “i cannot put a price on the value “uKti’s speed and efficiency
proved crucial in helping of the uKti sports & leisure were phenomenal and helped
london-based event marketing infrastructure team, which was innovision open doors, which
agency innovision win the instrumental in our success,” we’d never have been able to
contract to produce the opening enthused chief executive unlock on our own. the power
ceremony at the 2008 africa cup andrew douglass. of the uKti network and
of nations in ghana. business credibility gave us
“[after the wembley meeting]
an edge and ultimately helped
uKti, aware that ghana was we worked closely with uK
secure our contract.”
looking to meet with specialists trade & investment to invite
in opening ceremonies, matched a key ghanaian decision maker www.innovision.uk.com
africa cup organisers with to one of our major london
innovision at its “meet the events, le grand depart of the
stadium manager” event at tour de france, in June 2007. as
wembley stadium in 2007, marking the invitation came from uKti
the start of a fruitful relationship. it added extra weight and
credibility to our offering. within
48 hours, i had an appointment to
see the africa cup’s chief
operating officer.
19

22. The UK’s innovative and knowledge-based
economy... is synonymous with opportunity
and global potential.

23. DisCoVer global
growth FroM
a uK base
Maximising foreign
direct investment
In the UK, companies, including
many of the world’s major
corporations, plug directly into
+ 83%
the heart of global finance, global
The UK’s innovative and
knowledge-based economy,
creative and professional services, r&d investment into
global media and global talent.
underpinned by excellent public They enjoy access to world-class the uK increased by
services and infrastructure, is
synonymous with opportunity
science and academia and link 83 per cent in 2007/08
into a wide network of smaller
and global potential. Supported enterprises, many of which are
by a stable political system and also world leaders in their fields.
a well-established legal
framework, it offers a skilled and In short, the UK is the gateway
flexible multicultural workforce of international connections.
and a unique spirit, individuality No wonder, then, that the UK
and all-round creative energy. is number one in Europe and
second globally only to the USA
Blessed with a favourable in attracting Foreign Direct
geographic position and time Investment (FDI). Host of the
zone, the UK is at the hub of biggest show on earth in 2012,
international business, bringing it really is the place to be.
the world to a company’s door.
Unlike most of its competitors, Talk to UK Trade & Investment
it isn’t just an investment (UKTI) and you too could be at the
destination: it is rather an heart of this global crossroads.
investment multiplier, a
springboard to international
growth that upgrades the value
of a company’s investment.
The UK in itself offers the best of
international business. Companies
don’t do business in the UK just
because they’re interested in the
prosperous UK market. They also
come here to become global.
left: photovoltaic cells on the roof
of city hall, london.
image supplied by paul rapson
21

24. how uKti Can
help you...
UKTI’s comprehensive range – practical help, including visits
of services assists overseas to suitable locations, finding facts
companies, whatever their size business partners and accessing – the uK is the number-one
and experience, to bring high- financial incentives, and inward investment location
quality investment to the UK. in europe and number two
– a first-class aftercare service,
They are delivered in partnership in the world.
offering investors an opportunity
with teams in the development – in 2007/08, the uK attracted
to raise questions and issues
agencies in England’s nine 1,573 foreign direct
about their investment in the UK.
regions, and in Scotland, Wales investment (fdi) projects
and Northern Ireland, whose job Once you’re established in the (uKti had significant
it is to promote economic growth UK, we can then help your involvement in 549
in their area. company to expand – both in of these) from 48 countries, a
the UK and overseas. We provide record-breaking performance.
Deciding where to locate your
support with:
international business is often a – it takes 13 days to set up a
long and involved process. It is – new UK business opportunities, business in the uK, compared
UKTI’s job to know the UK’s to the european average of 32.
– choosing a new UK location,
strengths and where investment – the uK has the least
opportunities exist. Our services – growing your industry networks, barriers to entrepreneurship
help businesses coming to the in the world.
– having your say in
UK get up and running with speed
UK Government, – london is the leading city
and confidence.
– trading overseas, and in europe in terms of
They include: languages spoken.
– setting up a European – r&d investment into the
– impartial advice on where
headquarters. uK increased by 83 per cent
and how to set up business in
the UK, Take advantage of these services in 2007/08.
and you too could be part of the – the uK is ranked as the
– in-depth tailored information,
UK success story. best performer in the g8
including advice on R&D, tax,
human capital and visas, leading economies per unit
of r&d spend.
– introductions to professional – the level of fdi stock in the
advisers and key contacts, uK was us$1.347 trillion in
– access, through the UK Advisory 2007 – a record year.
Network, to lists of professional
service organisations, such as
accountants, lawyers and banks,
that can support your move to
the UK,
22

25. “uK trade & investment
really does offer a wide
range of help to make it
easier for businesses to
set up in the uK.”
amir Mohamed, Ceo, billadam (Malaysia)
23

26. what inward investment clients say about us
independently conducted business surveys of our
1st
inward investment clients tell us that locating in the uK is the
the uK enables them to: number-one inward
– keep up with – access an established investment location
competitors, network of business in europe and number
– access other markets services, and two in the world.
in the region, – tap into a
– be close to key centres knowledgeable and
of knowledge, research skilled workforce.
or expertise,
“our partnership with newcastle university came
about largely thanks to uK trade & investment and
all the people it introduced us to. my advice to other
companies considering investing in the uK is
contact uKti and follow their guide.”
Jeong-Chan ra, Ceo, rnl bio (south Korea)
left: the gateshead millennium bridge
24

27. “Indian companies looking to start operations
in Europe perceive the UK as the foremost
investment location and an excellent
platform to enter other European markets.”
Syed Anwar Hasan, Managing Director, Tata Limited (India)

28. case study
Creative industries
lg electronics
in June 2008, Korean firm the designers will also be with assistance from foreign
lg electronics, a leader in called upon to adapt products direct investment agency think
consumer electronics and mobile that will appeal to the european london, lg chose london and
communications, opened a market, but which have been the uK as its european hub due
new european design centre developed elsewhere. to its business and finance
in london. environment, as well as its
“our new european design
global position.
the centre, which was centre has been established to
formally opened by hrh the provide our design team with the the duke of York stated: “lg
duke of York, the uK’s special optimum creative environment, could have chosen any of several
representative for international which includes extensive global cities for this centre. that
trade and investment, will create libraries and leading technologies it chose london is tremendous
european designs for its entire to aid in the design process,” said news for the uK and testament
range of consumer goods, president and ceo James Kim. to the world-class business
including mobile handsets environment we’re creating here.”
and devices, flat-screen tvs
www.lge.co.uk
and audio systems, white goods
and other home electronics,
based on european
consumers’ requirements.
26

29. “our association with
uK trade & investment
gave us instant credibility
in the eyes of potential
partners. i’ve been
thrilled with the help
they have provided.”
louise rutten, yellow Culture (new Zealand)
27

30. next
steps
If you are interested in finding We also operate a customer
out more about UK Trade & enquiry line, which is staffed
Investment’s (UKTI) unique range from 09.00–17.30, Monday to
of services, we recommend that Friday. If you want to find out
you register on our website, which more, speak to someone directly
contains a wealth of information: or have any questions or feedback,
www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk then please give us a call:
+44 (0)20 7215 8000
It also enables you to find your
local International Trade Team Overseas-based investors and
and contains contact details of UK-based companies operating
relevant UKTI staff to help you overseas can also contact the UKTI
follow up on the areas that are team at their local British embassy,
of interest to you. high commission or consulate (see
website for details).
Make that first contact and you
will be one step closer to your
springboard for global growth.
left: esplanade bridge, singapore
28

31. Over a 12-month period, UKTI helped
over 12,000 companies overcome barriers
to entering new markets.

32. a range of uK government support is available from a portfolio of initiatives called
solutions for business. the “solutions” are available to qualifying businesses,
and cover everything from investment and grants through to specialist advice,
collaborations and partnerships.
uK trade & investment is the uK government organisation that helps uK-based
companies succeed in international markets. we assist overseas companies to
bring high-quality investment to the uK’s vibrant economy.
to find out more about uK trade & investment please visit
www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk or telephone +44 (0)20 7215 8000.
whereas every effort has been made to ensure that the information given in this document is accurate,
neither uK trade & investment nor its parent departments (the department for business, enterprise &
regulatory reform, and the foreign & commonwealth office) accept liability for any errors, omissions
or misleading statements, and no warranty is given or responsibility accepted as to the standing of any
individual, firm, company or other organisation mentioned.
the paper in this document is made from 75 per cent genuine waste pulp and 25 per cent mill broke.
using a recycled, forest stewardship council (fsc) certified paper is part of our ongoing organisational
effort to reduce our impact on the environment. fsc chain of custody certification means that a product
that carries the fsc label is made of pulp or paper that has passed through a secure journey from an
fsc-certified forest to an fsc-certified paper manufacturer, merchant and printer. the inks are
vegetable oil based and contain resins from plants/trees and the laminate on the cover is sustainable,
compostable and can be recycled.
published november 2008 by uK trade & investment
www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk Mixed Sources
Product group from well-managed
forests and recycled wood or fiber
www.fsc.org Cert no. TT-COC-002272
© crown copyright urn 08/1353 © 1996 Forest Stewardship Council