TDA International Trade Bursary helps BECS target Belgium

Business English Consulting Service Ltd (BECS), who are working closely with TDA and the Department for International Trade, used the International Trade Bursary to develop export activities in Belgium.

BECS is an award-winning corporate training company delivering tailor-made solutions to the public and private sector, specialising in business skills, management skills and train the trainer courses worldwide.

Encouraging more Torbay companies to identify new country export markets is a key objective of Torbay Council’s economic strategy to deliver business growth.

An Swinnen, Managing Director of BECS, said: “We have been working closely with the Department for International Trade on their Export for Growth programme. We have also had extensive market research undertaken by the British Embassy in Paris. The findings suggest to target the Belgium training sector first, before entering the French market where the company aims to tackle the French hi tech cluster in the South of France.

“TDA’s International Trade Bursary has given us the opportunity to explore the markets in Belgium, establish new export wins and create additional growth for the business.”

The company used the bursary to follow up on market research conducted by the Department for International Trade, to attend meetings with target clients and partners, and evening networking events.

The business trip enabled meetings with six new target customers with a potential order value of £575,000.

Jason Buck, Investment Development Manager at TDA, said: “We are pleased that we could support BECS Ltd on their trip to Belgium to meet potential target export clients under our International Trade Bursary. It was important for them to maximise on the prior market research for this new market of opportunity. We look forward to hearing of their new export wins in 2019.”

To learn more about the International Trade Bursary visit www.investintorbay.com/trade-bursary