Exporters are being encouraged to take advantage of a new scheme aimed at incorporating the skills of postgraduate students to aid international business success.
UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) West Midlands has teamed up with universities from across the region to create opportunities for businesses to employ the expertise of foreign language-speaking students through its new Postgraduates for International Business programme.
The scheme allows companies to hire students to work on particular projects from researching new markets to developing international contacts.
The wealth of internationally reputable universities in the area makes the West Midlands the perfect location for such a programme, with large numbers of postgraduates with expertise in a range of languages.
University schedules typically lend themselves to such work too with term breaks and the capacity for students to manage their own time as well as visa restrictions allowing international students to work up to 20 hours during term-time and during vacations.
Gerti Willis, Language and Cultural Adviser for UKTI in the West Midlands, said: “Hiring a student can help companies address the language and cultural barriers associated with market entry and development.
“Recruiting a student that is familiar with the language and business culture of a firm’s export market can really open doors and have a dramatic effect on a business’ progress entering a new market.
“Students can help with a wide range of activities, from dealing with enquiries that arrive in a foreign language to making sure that you do not make a cultural faux pas when meeting international clients.
“The duration of the project is dependent on its complexity, but companies should bear in mind that students will only be able to work on a part-time basis and have to be paid for their work and funding options are available.”
For more information and details of how to apply call Gerti Willis on 0121 607 1942 or email [email protected], alternatively consult a local International Trade Advisers.