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BRIEFING


viewpoint my world


ADRIAN SWINSCOE SPEAKER AND AUTHOR OF RARE BUSINESS


Too often I have seen packaging neglected as an opportunity in a business’ development and growth. It can be an essential element in helping to build brand identity, improve customers’ experience and create shelf impact. But packaging can also be very useful on a more personal level, when delivering a product to someone distant. Ask yourself this question: How many pairs of hands or eyes does your package pass through on the way to its destination? Imagine if your packaging said, in multiple languages, that ‘this package is for someone’s mother so please take care of it’. Yes, it may attract the wrong sort of attention. But, on the fl ip side, it may also attract the right sort of attention, make people talk and take more care of it, and make a huge, memorable and lasting impact on the individual that it is delivered to. Make sure that your product stands out, not just on the shelf, but also on the journey and when it reaches its destination.


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FCO MARKS CHARTER ANNIVERSARY


GOOD TO GO


SANDWICH CHAIN Pret A Manger is to launch 20 branches abroad, including in the US and France, following the success of two outlets in Paris. Chief executive Clive Schlee said: “We’re investing heavily in future growth.” Pret saw sales rise 15 per cent last year to £377.3m while profi ts jumped 14 per cent to £52.4m. The fi rm now employs around 5,000 in 294 stores. >> pret.com


THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (FCO) has marked a year since the Foreign Secretary launched its Charter for Business. The Charter sets out seven commitments, including that FCO Ministers and offi cials will lobby tirelessly on behalf of UK business and will ensure that commercial and economic interests are given strong support within foreign policy. Read more about the FCO’s Overseas Business Risk support on page 20.


QUEEN’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE


NISSAN BOOSTS PRODUCTION


NISSAN is to build its new compact and mid- sized hatchback models at its Sunderland plant, creating more than 3,000 jobs. Once recruitment is complete, the Sunderland plant’s workforce will stand at a record 6,225, supporting annual production of more than 500,000 cars. Production lines will operate 24/7 for the fi rst time in the Wearside site’s 26-year history. >> nissan.co.uk


10 | springboard | www.ukti.gov.uk


HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN has conferred Awards for Enterprise on 151 UK companies across the UK. The awards recognise and encourage outstanding achievements in overseas earning by businesses in the UK. Entrants for the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise must have at least two employees, be UK- based and have achieved at least £100,000 in overseas sales in the fi rst year of trading. To fi nd out more about the 2013 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, call 020 7215 6880 or email info@queensawards.org.uk


CHINESE BANK INVESTS IN THE UK


LORD GREEN, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, has welcomed the formal launch of the Agricultural Bank of China’s (ABC) new subsidiary in London. Founded in 1951, ABC has 390m retail customers, 2.7m corporate clients and 24,000 branches in China. It is now the fi fth major state-owned Chinese bank to establish a British subsidiary. The UK and China have agreed to increase bilateral trade to $100bn a year by 2015, and to maintain a secure and open trading environment – both domestically and internationally. The UK also intends to raise its total exports to China to $30bn a year over this period.


Nick Baird, chief executive of UK Trade & Investment, said: “As one of the most open economies in the world, I believe the UK is a natural home for Chinese fi rms. The UK is one of the largest recipients of Chinese investment in Europe, and China is the UK’s fastest-growing export market. “The Agricultural Bank of China’s new subsidiary, along with the recent investment by China Investment Corporation into Thames Water and the work to develop London as a global offshore market for the Renminbi are clear demonstrations of the strength of the UK for overseas investors.” >> abchina.com/en

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