Construction companies in the East Midlands will be urged to target foreign markets at a business event next month.

Representatives from UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and the Sustainable Construction Innovation Network (iNet) will inform delegates on the wealth of overseas opportunities available to companies with the right skills, products and services. Regional businesses will learn about the help and support available to companies looking to access foreign markets.

The free event, entitled Green Buildings, will take place at the National Space Centre in Leicester on Friday 5 March, registration begins at 9.00 am and the event will run from 9.30 am until 5.00 pm. 

International representatives from China, Russia and Mexico will give ten-minute market presentations to attending businesses.

Other topics to be covered include the Code for Sustainable Homes, Innovations in Construction, Enabling Technologies and Sustainable Refurbishment.  

Charles Meynell, Senior Innovation Adviser at the iNet, said: "The East Midlands has a strong offering in terms of sustainable construction. We already have the skills, technology and most importantly, the innovatory abilities, to compete globally. The iNet wants to encourage and support businesses wherever possible to take advantage of the many overseas commercial opportunities available to them." 

Jane Waldron, Area Manager for UKTI East Midlands, said: "The British construction industry is uniquely placed. Our standards and codes are recognised all over the world and we've developed a number of innovative technologies and building practices that can reduce a development's impact on the environment, while addressing social and economic needs. We want to encourage more East Midlands construction companies to compete abroad. For any business regardless of its size UK Trade & Investment along with its partners can offer you the support and guidance required to become a global business, with a network of staff in 160 offices located in 98 countries worldwide we are well placed to identify global business opportunities."

Funded by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Sustainable Construction iNet has a number of roles, particularly in helping SMEs innovate and generate profits and jobs. The iNet focuses on a number of key annual themes in delivering support to those businesses through in-depth, sector specific advice.

As well as offering specialist advice and organising and hosting industry-leading events, the iNet also provides funding programmes to support innovation in the construction sector to increase productivity, long-term sustainability and business growth.

The iNet offers financial support through two schemes; the Innovation Support Grant (ISG) offering up to £10,000 matched funding and Collaborative R&D Fund (previously known as HECF), in collaboration with higher education institutions, which can offer larger grants for projects.

To qualify for an ISG the applicant must be operating commercially in construction or an associated industry sector such as mining, quarrying, waste management, energy or water, or in professional services such as architecture or surveying. They must also require technical or consultancy assistance for their idea, product or process and expect to protect or create jobs in the East Midlands as a result. 

The Collaborative R&D Fund provides grants for companies to access the support and expertise of the region's universities and technical colleges. The fund requires two or more East Midlands' higher education institutions and one or more SME construction companies, employing fewer than 250 people, to work together towards a commercial goal that will ultimately deliver competitive advantage. 

The partnership created as a result of the Collaborative R&D Fund must also enable the applicant to bid for even larger sums from the European Union and other sources.