Business experts on hand to advise on European expansion (From Warrington Guardian)

Business experts on hand to advise on European expansion

5:40pm Friday 21st September 2012 in News

THE surge in interest in the UK fuelled by the Olympics and Queen’s Jubilee means now is the perfect time for small and medium-sized businesses to expand into Europe.

Business advice experts Enterprise Europe Network North West (EENW) has joined with the Warrington Guardian to promote the services on offer to help businesses in their efforts to export to the continent.

Over the next few weeks we will be providing advice, tips and success stories of how businesses have taken advantage.

EENW provides information, support and guidance to SMEs who want to take advantage of opportunities to sell to our European neighbours.

Fiona Castela, project manager at EENW, said: “There are some fantastic opportunities for businesses if they are willing to explore the idea of exporting, either for the first time or to a new country.

“The Olympics was the first step for many companies but there is no reason why others should not follow suit and EENW is able to help them on that journey.”

Set up by the European Commission EENW offers a wide range of free and impartial business services, including advice on intellectual property, CE marking and obtaining EU funding.

It also has experts on hand to help businesses confused by the sometimes complex regulations and documentation governing import and export to and from certain countries.

As well as providing one-to-one advice, EENW has a comprehensive searchable database on its website containing more than 14,000 company profiles, partnership opportunities and information sheets.

It also features a business partnering service where company owners in the region can search for suitable opportunities in Europe based on their trade requirements, technology capabilities or manufacturing needs.

For more information visit eenw.org or speak to one of EENW’s expert advisers on 0844 259 8571, quoting code WG.

TRADING overseas can seem daunting but David Wright, European business adviser at EENW, has some straightforward tips to prevent businesses from falling into common traps when it comes to import and export.

David said: “Often the first time companies consider issues like which currency they choose to trade in, their trading conditions, or legal matters, is when they have a problem. 

“Our key advice is to hope for the best and plan for the worst.”

l Know where to turn for advicel Get the legalities covered. Set up and use Standard Trading Conditions (STCs) and incorporate them into all quotations, offers and correspondence

• Seek specialist advice to help get your trading terms and conditions for trading right
• Money matters. Consider the currency you will be trading in. Will you opt for Sterling, Euros or something else?  It’s a complex and important choice
• Credit where it’s due. There can be huge variations in business credit across Europe. While businesses can expect payment from companies in Scandinavia and Germany within 30 days, in southern Europe, payment may arrive up to six months after work is completed
• Brush up on your language skills
• Don’t make a cultural gaff. Pick up some tips on cultural dos and don’ts.
• Get it right and no-one will notice, get it wrong and everyone will.

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