HWCC
International Trade
Business Guidance and Support
International Trade Support
The Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce and the Department for International Trade (DIT) combine to provide a comprehensive suite of international support, advice, services and training. Together, we support businesses of any size or export and import experience to trade internationally.
From international market facing and business development support, to training and services that assist in getting your products to your client in the most effective and efficient way, the Chamber offers a comprehensive portfolio of trade assistance that is supplemented by access to a commercial network that extends to over 100 countries worldwide.
Businesses can benefit from DIT support for free. Chamber international trade services are available to both Members and Non-Members, with Members receiving a discount across most services.
What the Chamber offers:
Export Documentation
Customs Declarations
Translation & Interpretation
Training Workshops
EU Exit Support
What the Department for International Trade within the Chamber offer:
International Digital Marketing Clinics
Exclusive, free of charge one to one meetings are available with our Digital Trade Advisers. These bespoke clinics are designed to improve your international web presence by helping you develop your website to have an international appeal, get found in Google and other international search engines and how to use social media internationally.
We can help by showing you how to:
- Optimise your website for an international audience
- Research your international audience
- Use online tools to gain valuable market insights
- Use social media with an international audience
- Leverage mobile and content marketing to improve your international presence
To find out more about this service and to check availability, please contact the International Trade Team:
01905 673 600 (option 4)
International Market Research
Utilising DIT’s extensive global commercial network in British Embassies, High Commissions or Overseas Business network organisations, The Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS) can assist businesses at any stage of their international development.
Delivered by local staff operating in the British Embassies or through overseas business network organisations, types of OMIS commissions include, but are not limited to:
- Identification and access of the most appropriate international representatives or partners for a company
- Provision of more in-depth market research about the target sector
- Support in the arrangement of promotional events on the company’s behalf in the target country
- Arrangement of meetings with international customers/end-users or potential international partners, representatives or agents
- Organisation of receptions, meetings or seminars (for example at the British Embassy) to present/exhibit your business’s product or service
To find out more about this service and to check availability, please contact the International Trade Team:
01905 673 600 (option 4)
Export Market Selection
By working with your business to agree key criteria that determine international market potential and ease of access to that market, our Export Market Selection Adviser utilises a straightforward research methodology and an online software tool to identify and prioritise target overseas markets with “low hanging fruit” potential for your products or services as well as identifying those markets which may take more effort to penetrate but where the rewards could be higher.
To find out more about this service and to check availability, please contact the International Trade Team:
01905 673 600 (option 4)
Global Market Insights
From time to time, overseas market visits for West Midlands companies to markets around the globe are organised by the West Midlands DIT team.
Examples of countries visited recently include Japan, France and China.
Please check with your Chamber DIT team for any upcoming market visits.
Overseas Exhibition Support
Overseas exhibition funding is available through the Trade Access Programme (TAP). Please check with your Chamber DIT team for grant availability for specific overseas exhibitions and your own business eligibility.
Events, Activities and Webinars
DIT West Midlands are continuously running international events, activities and webinars across the West Midlands region. Please contact your DIT team at the Chamber for an updated list of DIT events.
To find out more about this service and to check availability, please contact the International Trade Team:
01905 673 600 (option 4)
UK Export Finance
UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK’s export credit agency and a government department, working alongside the Department for International Trade.
Putting the right finance and insurance in place can give you the exporting edge, helping you to win contracts, fulfil orders and get paid.
Access to export finance
If the terms of a contract require a bond, such as performance guarantees or advance payment guarantees, UKEF’s Bond Support Scheme can guarantee a UK exporter’s bank up to 80% of the bond’s value, significantly reducing the size of the deposit needed.
To secure a multi-million dollar contract in Bahrain, Dudley firm Mechatherm needed to provide an advance payment guarantee and a performance bond from Mechatherm’s UK bank. UKEF was able to guarantee 80% of the value of both bonds, freeing up the cash the company needed to deliver and securing its reputation as a quality supplier in the region.
UKEF’s Export Working Capital Scheme can partially guarantee to cover the credit risks for lenders associated with facilities allowing the exporter to access greater levels of export working capital. This means UK companies can export if they win a contract higher in value, or win more overseas contracts, than usual.
UK suppliers to exporters can also access government-backed finance, spreading the benefits of trade to SMEs across the UK.
Managing payment risks
Export insurance is readily available in most cases from the commercial sector but for some markets securing the right cover can be a challenge. UKEF’s Export Insurance Policy helps exporters manage the uncertainties of trading overseas by protecting against non-payment under certain conditions, such as country risk.
UKEF has a regional network of Export Finance Managers to help you find solutions to your export finance challenges. Find out if UKEF can help your business and contact our team.
To find out more about this service and to check availability, please contact the International Trade Team:
01905 673 600 (option 4)
British business has always looked overseas for opportunities and foreign trade is vital to the UK economy
Through the Chamber you can get support and advice across all areas of International Trade development.
We also provide up-to-date country information together with advice on essential documentation. We are authorised by HM Government and nationally accredited to certify Certificates of Origin (United Kingdom and Arab) and UK EUR1 certificates, invoices and other documents as required in International Trade and also ATA Carnets for temporary movement of goods. Get in touch for further information via the form below.
What our Members Say:
“HW Chamber of Commerce are an outstanding organisation that support businesses both large and small. For Surf Tech IT the networking opportunities throughout the counties is well structured and the support the organisation offers businesses is well valued.”
– Clare John, SurfTechIT
For more information about our Membership packages
Get in touch with our membership team