Doing business in the UK
Sources of information and advice
by Sarah Powell
Are you a continental European company doing business
in the UK market, or aiming to do so? Are you looking for information
or advice?
The good news is that there are numerous sources of help for business,
and the internet means considerable initial research can be done
from your desk, saving you valuable time - and money.
At a glance
• The internet speeds and eases initial research
• Much practical and documentary help available at little or
no cost
• Euro Info Centres - a significant resource
• Access a range of service through Business Links
• Membership of a local chamber of commerce offers numerous
benefits
• UK Trade & Investment assists international companies
• The British Library has a dedicated Business & IP Centre
Research at a distance
Before exploring UK-based information sources, you will want to
exhaust all possible local sources. Your
legal and financial advisers may have useful links with British
organisations, saving you time in research. Your local chamber of
commerce will probably offer advice as will your country’s
international trade information services.
A significant online resource for EU member state companies is
the European Commission’s portal
to online European and national public services, which provides
practical information for European enterprises and entrepreneurs
working across national borders. English-language pages can be found
at www.ec.europea.eu/youreurope.
Links of specific interest to small and medium-sized businesses
can be found at www.ec.europa.eu/youreurope/nav/en/business/index.html.
EU member state companies targeting the wider European marketplace
can also approach their nearest Euro Info Centre
(EIC). Established in 1987 the EIC network has over 250 centres
across the whole of Europe. These provide up-to-date information
on European Directives and Regulations, public sector contract opportunities,
business opportunities, funding, research and development initiatives,
and more. EICs can also put you in touch with other expert networks
in specific fields. Details of the UK Euro Info network is available
from www.euro-info.org.uk.
When in the UK
If you are establishing a UK-based operation, you will be able
to tap into numerous organisations dedicated
to helping business. Of particular importance to small and medium-sized
enterprises is that much practical and documentary advice can be
accessed at little or no cost.
A useful first port of call is the website of the government-sponsored,
nationwide network of Business Link offices
(www.businesslink.gov.uk),
which has been expressly designed to support business and promote
enterprise. It specialises in fast-tracking clients to appropriate
advisers or sources of information covering all aspects of business
set-up, maintenance or growth. Such information can include the
availability of tax credits, grants, loans, subsidised consultancy,
collaborative R&D, business links with UK universities and other
opportunities.
The international ‘arm’ of Business Link is UK
Trade & Investment (www.ukinvest.gov.uk/index.html)
which provides practical assistance to international companies establishing
and expanding their business in the UK. UK Trade & Investment
emphasises the quality of the UK’s R&D, a research base
that ranks second in importance only to the USA. Some 45 per cent
of all business R&D undertaken in the UK is funded by overseas-owned
companies.
Many countries have representative chamber of
commerce offices in the UK, or national-UK joint chambers,
mostly in London. You can also join your local British chamber of
commerce (see www.chamberonline.co.uk).
British chambers of commerce are membership bodies and offer a wide
range of advice, events, networking and marketing opportunities
to local businesses. Their services can include telephone advice
lines, insurance products, and travel and foreign exchange services.
Further information can be requested from info@britishchambers.org.uk.
Business and market research
A wide range of business-related information and help can be obtained
through the British Library’s Business &
IP Centre in London (www.bl.uk/bipc).
This centre is an invaluable resource for small and medium-sized
companies and individual business researchers. While providing access
to a substantial business book, journal and database collection,
it also offers free information workshops and clinics on topics
such as market and company research, patent searching and developing
mailing lists. Other moderately priced, commercially organised seminars
on issues relating to business start-ups, innovation and entrepreneurship
are hosted at the centre.
Businesses in other areas of the UK can use the British Library’s
document supply service through public libraries, and local library
internet terminals can access the British Library’s online
services.
Those seeking research support may also be interested in the British
Library’s dedicated Research Service
(www.bl.uk/research).
Benefiting from access to more than 800 specialist databases in
addition to the library collection of three million books and over
a million journal titles, reports, theses and conference proceedings,
library information experts can carry out research tailored to your
specifications, budget and deadline.
All the sources of information outlined above are easily accessible,
and all focus on helping businesses to take advantage of the opportunities
arising from the increasingly open European and wider global markets.
This assistance can substantially ease the research effort for a
small or medium-sized company - which is crucially important in
keeping time and costs to a minimum.
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