International Trade International Trade
T: 0121 725 8994 E:
ibh@birmingham-chamber.com
New recruits join Innovate UK Edge team
The Chamber’s new international support team – Innovate UK Edge – has taken on three new recruits. Innovate UK Edge has taken over from the
former Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), and is offering support to small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) to help launch new products and services. Joining former EEN business advisers Sunny Claire and Amerdeep Mangat in Birmingham are innovation and growth specialists Jenny Rohde and Avalon Maison, and support officer Iona Murdoch. Jenny has undertaken a range of roles in her
career so far, including working as a growth specialist at University of Warwick Science Park. In her spare time, Jenny enjoys sailing
holidays with her family, escaping into nature ‘to reset her senses’, or baking with her grandchildren. Born and raised in Telford, Avalon began his
career at HMRC as a business analyst, learning the necessary skills to understand and analyse business needs. As someone that enjoys sports and fitness, his
chosen method of relaxation is spending evenings in the gym and ‘challenging his body to test the limits’.
UK joins Pacific free trade zone
West Midlands firms will be able to take advantage of “deeper access to emerging markets” as a result the UK’s move to join a free trade area with 11 Asia and Pacific nations, it is claimed. The Chamber says that the UK’s decision
to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) would give the region’s businesses access to fast-growing markets and major economies, including Mexico, Malaysia and Vietnam. In addition, International Trade Secretary
Liz Truss said joining CPTPP would boost UK exports and jobs. Being part of the £9tr partnership would
also cut tariffs for UK industries including food and drink, and cars, while also creating new opportunities for modern industries such tech and services. The CPTPP, which was established in
2018, covers a market of around 500 million people and its members include Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.
34CHAMBERLINK March 2021 Jenny and Avalon will provide innovation and
business advisory support to businesses, particularly those impacted by the coronavirus. This support is tailored to the business and can include access to funding. Iona is a keen traveller. She spends most of
her time outside of work volunteering for Erasmus Student Network (ESN), the largest student-led NGO in Europe. As national representative of ESN UK, she liaises with stakeholders throughout the country. Chamber international director Mandy Haque
said: “I am delighted to welcome new team members to the international programmes team at the Chamber to deliver really valuable business support at a time when innovation plays a crucial role in business growth. “They are a great addition to enhance the
existing support on offer from the experienced team of Amerdeep Mangat and Sunny Claire, providing innovation advice and expanding the breadth of services on offer at the Chamber, which not only support international growth, but domestic too.”
For more information contact Sunny Claire via
sunny.claire@
innovateukedge.ukri.org
Airline returns to Birmingham
Eastern Airways is returning to Birmingham Airport, restarting a twice weekly direct Gibraltar to Birmingham route from May. The airline will operate to the destination on
Mondays and Fridays, and is resuming flights after a four year hiatus. Eastern is a small regional airline based at
Humberside Airport, and has a fleet of 14 aircraft. The Gibraltar service will be operated by the
airline’s Embraer 190 e-Jet fleet with fares starting from £74.99 one-way, including taxes and a 15kg hold baggage allowance as standard. Roger Hage, general manager for Eastern
Airways, said: “This marks a major development in the network Eastern Airways offer as our first
regular scheduled service to the Mediterranean peninsula adjoining Spain. “With easy access to the south-coast of Spain
also a benefit, working together with HM Government of Gibraltar has enabled this to be the first service to be announced, supporting UK regional airports and their role in direct European connectivity.” Tom Screen, aviation director for Birmingham
Airport said: "It is great news that Eastern Airways is back at Birmingham offering customers the chance to fly direct to Gibraltar again, this route has been unserved from Birmingham since 2017. “Gibraltar is a popular destination to our
leisure customers, for a sunny getaway, but also an important business route providing access to this British territory. “We believe this route will be a sign of things
to come as they develop their network further. “Both Birmingham Airport and Eastern
Airways have a fully enhanced cleaning structure in place and can reassure customers that their safety if is of paramount importance.” Eastern Airways’ services have been carefully
New connection: An Embraer jet
reintroduced, and with strict observation of Covid-19 restrictions, including extensive cleaning measures on-board.
New recruits: Iona Murdoch and Avalon Maison
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