World Trade Week begins today and one Nottingham Businesswoman
is keen to share her experience of international trade.
The current climate may have spelt disaster for many small
companies but entrepreneur Diane Stephenson is enjoying a 50%
increase on turnover this financial year.
The life coach has just returned from a business trip to Russia
with a growing love of international markets.
Fresh back from a week long trip to the former Soviet state she
is keen to encourage other companies to make full use of what UKTI
has to offer.
In the last month Diane has travelled to and made contacts in
two of the four international 'BRIC countries;' Russia and Brazil,
both deemed to be still experiencing growth with an interest in
education and training.
Founded in 2007 her company, Everything Solutions, specialises
in personal and professional development and offers a broad range
of services to her clients including skills training, mentoring and
1:1 coaching. Her mission statement is 'to help people be the best
they can be' and to date she has helped more than 100 companies and
their staff to do just that.
Diane approached UKTI at a trade fair and expressed an interest
in exporting her services. She received a £600 grant towards
her trip to Brazil, and a £500 grant towards the Russia trip.
In addition, she received £1,500 match funding towards the
trips and expert advice on how to ensure that her website,
marketing materials and overseas presentations were suitable for
her intended export markets.
Through UKTI's Overseas Market Introduction Service, Diane was
able to commission UKTI to conduct invaluable market research on
her Company's behalf and have 1:1 meetings set up for her with her
specified target audience. After a successful meeting with a
partner of an international law firm she returned home with a 12
week coaching contract!
The budding entrepreneur said: "UKTI gave me the practical,
emotional and financial support to step outside my comfort
zone.
"I had always wanted to have my own business and work overseas
and now I am doing it!
"Working with UKTI gave me the confidence I needed to get on a
plane and get on with it.
"The export success I have had so far has given me renewed
confidence in my home markets. I feel that I could go anywhere now
and wouldn't be daunted. UKTI is a vehicle to help you realise your
own business potential and I would urge anyone who is interested in
exporting their goods or services to talk to UKTI to see what
support might be available to them. They may be as surprised as I
was.
"My meetings were set up for me and appointments made through
the British Embassy in the host country. When I arrived to my
meetings I felt as though I had the weight of the whole country
behind me.
"There were no language barriers and only one meeting needed an
interpreter, recommended by UKTI.
Diane plans to revisit both countries later in the year to
follow-up strong business leads.
Peter Hogarth International Trade Director for the East Midlands
said: "Diane's success story is just one of many that UKTI
help every year.
"Our aim is to reach further across the number of companies we
can help and we would urge all business large and small to come to
us for help and advice.
"UKTI is here to help businesses fulfil their true potential
outside the UK and we are keen to do this wherever possible. "