Meet the Expert – USA

February 11, 2016

Marches businesses keen to launch their goods and services in the USA are being invited to a UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) event next week.
The free Meet the Expert event, which takes place on February 16 at the University of Wolverhampton’s Telford campus, will enable businesses to book 30-minute one-to-one meetings with experts in a range of fields – including UKTI advisers, US legal and intellectual property advisers, banks and product certification experts.
Richard Smith, of UKTI West Midlands, said: “The USA is a dream destination for many British businesses and because we share close political, language and cultural ties, it offers huge potential.
“Nevertheless, there are specific challenges for any business wishing to export their goods and services to the USA; UKTI can support and advise on the best approaches and can also help with developing strategy to gain market entry.
“Our Meet the Expert event will give businesses the opportunity to get free advice on many aspects of trading with the USA, whether they have already begun to export there and feel the time is right to expand or are first-time exporters.”
Among the topics being covered at the event are: advice on taxation, immigration and legal matters; understanding the challenges of exporting to the USA; and learning about locating or investing in the USA, as well as appointing a partner.
Hundreds of West Midlands businesses are already trading successfully in the USA – in the year ending September 2015, it was the region’s largest market for the export of goods, worth £5.1 bn.
One West Midlands company that has started to export successfully to the USA is Proserve Ltd, a family-run firm that uses fabric formwork systems in marine construction projects.
James Hawkswood, business and product manager at the Kenilworth-based business, said it is keen to develop its market in the USA because there is no American company selling fabric formwork in ports.
Proserve started working with UKTI in February 2014 and attended the International Navigation Association (PIANC) USA conference in San Francisco in June 2014.
“It helped so much being out there and meeting key people – it helped to introduce us to the market and off the back of it we’ve got two jobs in the area,” added James.
Meet The Expert USA takes place between 9.30am and 4..30pm on February 16 at The Great Oak Room, University of Wolverhampton, 2nd floor SC Building, Shifnal Road, Telford.

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The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has now ceased trading and transferred all its functions to Shropshire Council working with Telford & Wrekin Council and Herefordshire Council, in line with the UK Government's plans for devolution.

The Marches LEP was established in 2011 and hands over an impressive legacy from its 13-year life. In that time the LEP invested over £196m in projects across the Marches, securing in excess of £100m of match funding and supported more than 66,000 business interactions.

The schemes supported have made tangible differences to local communities, increasing skills, creating jobs and improving the physical appearance of many towns.

We would like to thank all the LEP Board Members who have given their time freely over the life of the LEP, as well as all the staff who worked for the LEP over the years. We also want to thank our delivery partners, local education providers and local, regional and national stakeholders who helped us achieve so much.

The Marches Growth Hub will continue to support businesses and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford and Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Each of the three Local Authorities will also continue to provide direct business support locally. Details of this support will be available through the Marches Growth Hub website and from the Local Authorities directly. Website: www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk | email: enquiries@marchesgrowthhub.co.uk.

The Marches Careers Hub will continue to be delivered and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Website: www.marchescareershub.co.uk | email: info@marchescareershub.co.uk

For any queries about Getting Building Fund (GBF), Local Growth Fund (LGF) and Marches Investment Fund (MIF) projects supported by the Marches LEP please contact: gary.spence@shropshire.gov.uk

For any finance queries please contact: michelle.hodgkiss@shropshire.gov.uk

The solvent liquidation of the Marches LEP is being managed by the Evelyn Partners Limited. For any matter related to this please contact: Camilla.Mulholland@evelyn.com

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