Overcoming language and cultural barriers can be difficult, and expensive, for small exporters. But Bath-based ESPA UK believes it has the cost-effective answer – by arranging six-month work placements of European undergraduates.
By utilising the language and business skills of students from EU nations, small firms will be able to research new markets, translate websites and documents and make the kind of calls to overseas companies that can be daunting for English-only speakers
And, according to ESPA, the cost can be roughly half that of employing someone on the minimum wage.
EPSA was co-founded by Colin Blackburn, who was previously the sales director of a small business.
“I could see the benefits of exporting, but couldn’t see a way to do it effectively on the budget we had available at the time,” he says. “I was introduced to the student placement programme by UKTI (the Government’s export support organization) and the local chamber of commerce.
“Within three years the business had grown by 80% and we were exporting to 26 countries worldwide, in no small part due the skills and abilities of the international students we took on.”
Colin, who describes himself as a “typical Brit with very limited language skills”, was so positive about the student placements he decided to focus on helping other small businesses improve their exports in the same way – which led to him launching ESPA.
The students, he says, are highly motivated, skilled and ambitious and as well as having excellent English and their own language usually also have knowledge of other languages.
For more information call ESPA on 01225 430641, email info@espauk.com or go to www.espauk.com
