International Trade
International Business Hub
Whisk is whipping up its exporting efforts
A Birmingham-based tech company is being helped in its export ambitions by the Chamber’s international team. The company is Whisk, which has
invented an ‘easy-to-use meal planning device’, which helps match people’s shopping list to more than two million online recipes. Whisk was launched six years by Nick Holzherr, a finalist in the BBC series ‘The Apprentice’. It started out in the UK and then set out to target other markets, such as the USA and South Korea. In order to realise its expansion plans,
Whisk was advised by Chamber international trade adviser Cheryl Boxall in applying for a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) grant to help with meeting potential clients overseas and attending a global conference. This allowed Nick to join in four overseas visits, to visit potential clients and to attend industry events. Nick said: “Having the support of the
EDRF grant was a real bonus and helped to accelerate our progress.”
Trade visit highlights India’s battery challenge
Midlands firms are poised to help their Indian counterparts tackle significant challenges surrounding battery technology, following a successful automotive trade visit. Greater Birmingham Chambers of
Commerce (GBCC) was part of a Midlands Engine delegation that visited a major automotive conference in Pune. Firms in the future mobility sector joined
the delegation, along with the West Midlands Growth Company. As well as attending the Symposium on
International Automotive Technology in Pune, the trip also included a trade day in Chennai and a visit to the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras. Pete West, international trade adviser
within the GBCC’s International Business Hub, said: “One of the most significant challenges facing India, particularly with electric vehicles, is the future of battery technology. They have some unique requirements with in relation to battery size, battery life and charging infrastructure. “There were some positive conversations
between visiting companies from the Midlands and those based in India regarding potential solutions to these challenges.”
38 CHAMBERLINK March 2019
Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s chief operating officer, Russell Jeans, is urging firms to ‘do business with integrity’. Mr Jeans comments came in the wake of the
Government’s launch of a new ‘Business Integrity Hub’, which is being backed by the Chamber. The hub helps importers, exporters and
foreign investors operating or preparing to do business in emerging markets, also known as ‘frontier’ markets. Its services include helping firms be aware of the risks posed by emerging markets, such as bribery and corruption. He said that although there were massive
opportunities in frontier markets, businesses should put integrity at the heart of their approach. He said: “I see a growing number of ambitious
companies capitalising on opportunities in high potential frontier markets across Africa, Asia and Latin America. “In the post-Brexit world, these markets will
become increasingly important and attractive environments in which to do business but for the unprepared they can also be a source of risk, particularly in relation to bribery and corruption. “This means having business integrity policies
and practices in place that ensure compliance with the UK Bribery Act and insisting that local partners, agents and distributors adhere to the same high standards.
“Adopting codes of conduct and ethical policies
is a good start but they must be backed by training and continuous reinforcement, led from the top. I recognise this isn’t easy particularly for small companies, which lack the necessary resources and know-how, which is why I welcome the Government’s new Business Integrity Hub, which is offering a range of integrity guidance and support to small and medium-sized businesses operating in frontier markets. “Doing business with integrity generates
direct business benefits from reputational gains and more competitive bids, to greater access to multi-national supply chains and longer-term business sustainability.”
New medical service launched
Calthorpe Estates has launched a door-to-door service for national and international private patients undergoing complex healthcare treatments in Edgbaston Medical Quarter, at the Arab Health exhibition in Dubai. The new patient pathway has been designed to provide patients and referrers with a choice of medical concierge options to access the best of UK treatments in oncology, orthopaedics, trauma, diabetes, rehabilitation, fertility and mental health. Edgbaston Medical Quarter is now
home to 64 per cent of the Birmingham’s healthcare sector, and includes more than 180 medical organisations. The area is also on the way to becoming an
ideal place for national and international patients to seek treatment. An example of this is Circle Birmingham Hospital’s 204,514 sq ft state-of-the-art facility, opening this coming autumn.
Calthorpe’s medical concierge service was launched at Arab Health, the largest medical exhibition and conferences in the Middle East. Calthorpe Estates chief executive Mark Lee (pictured) said: “Patients choose Edgbaston because of its healthcare excellence, value, and access to eminent clinicians and the latest cutting-edge treatments. “Edgbaston Medical Quarter’s
medical facilities also sit alongside thriving leisure and lifestyle
communities, which means family members and companions can enjoy award-winning places to eat and a host of arts, leisure and sports facilities. It is also
a culturally diverse and welcoming city. “The new medical concierge services deliver a
bespoke service and have been designed to guide patients through every aspect of their needs, they help to take the stress away by giving patients and referrers choice, transparency and access to world-class medical care.”
T: 0121 450 4205 E:
ibh@birmingham-chamber.com
Businesses are urged to act with integrity
Russell Jeans
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