Go UK Business Competition Open For Kiwi Business

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) announced today that it has launched Go UK - a business plan competition open to New Zealand businesses interested in expansion to the UK.

Go UK gives New Zealand companies the chance to win business support packages that include British Airways return business airfares to London, meetings with potential business partners, client contacts, business networks, a free limited company, business services, and on-going UKTI support to expand to the UK and then the world.

Entries are open for Go UK participants to submit their business plan online with close of entries on Friday 9 February 2012.

The New Zealand finalists for each region/category will be announced in February 2012.

UKTI has already helped many New Zealand companies successfully establish themselves in the UK and several companies are already set up and doing business in the UK. Around 80 New Zealand and Australian businesses expand their operations in the UK each year, most of those with the help of UK Trade & Investment.

Her Excellency the British High Commissioner Mrs Vicki Treadell says now is an opportune time for New Zealand businesses to expand into the UK.

“The UK is the easiest place in Europe to do business and has the least barriers to entrepreneurship in the world. We all know examples of great Kiwi success stories in the UK. Everyone has heard about Jade Software, Pingar, Rakon, A2, Simpl and others. There are many more SMEs that crack the UK market every year. It doesn’t matter what your line of business, any New Zealand company thinking of establishing themselves in the UK should enter Go UK,” Mrs Treadell said.

UK Trade & Investment spokesperson, Paul Wilkinson says the UK is much more than a financial services centre; it is also the world’s sixth largest economy.

“UK is a must destination for New Zealand companies looking to expand and provides the best environment to grow in and is the ideal location from which businesses can realise their international business potential. The UK provides a unique gateway of international connections as one of the world’s top ten manufacturing nations; and has the world’s second largest aerospace industry; the world’s second largest – and Europe’s largest – life sciences industry; Europe’s second largest ICT sector; and its largest creative industry sector. All of that is very hard to beat as a one stop shop and UK Trade & Investment is happy to provide support to New Zealand companies wishing to use the UK as their springboard for global growth.

Wilkinson adds: “Real estate in the UK is competitively priced; the New Zealand dollar is buying more than it has for many years and the UK economy is poised for a decade of growth, especially with the London 2012 Olympics just around the corner. If you are thinking about expanding internationally, enter Go UK and contact UK Trade & Investment for assistance.”

A similar initiative, UK Market Entry (UKME) competition, was run last year and attracted 60 New Zealand entrants.

The winners of the UK Market Entry (UKME) competition included Windflow Technology Limited the leading Christchurch-based wind turbine manufacturer, and Palmerston North’s Verusco Technologies, a software developer for world-class sports analysis programmes.

Windflow Technology and Verusco Technologies each received a support package to assist with their UK growth plans. This package is provided by GO UK and its sponsors and is complemented with the confidential and free business expertise and guidance from UK Trade & Investment.

To enter the Go UK competition and for more information please go to http://ukinnewzealand.fco.gov.uk/go-uk

About UK Trade & Investment

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the government department that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy. We also help overseas companies bring their high quality investment to the UK’s economy – acknowledged as Europe’s best place from which to succeed in global business. UKTI offers expertise and contacts through its extensive network of specialists in the UK, and in British embassies and other diplomatic offices around the world. We provide companies with the tools they require to be competitive on the world stage. For more information on UKTI, visit www.ukti.gov.uk or telephone +44 (0)20 7215 8000. For latest press releases, visit the online newsroom at www.ukti.gov.uk/media.

You can also keep in touch with developments at UKTI through www.blog.ukti.gov.uk, www.twitter.com/ukti and www.flickr.com/photos/tags/ukti.

BACKGROUNDER
DEADLINES
The Go UK business competition will run until 9 February 2012: Closing date for registration and completed application form.
 

Prize details
Three companies from Australia and one from New Zealand will each win a Go UK prize package worth at least $30,000, which will include:

• Return business-class flight to the UK with British Airways.
• Business registration and six months’ worth of accounting support from Kevin Beare & Co.
• Business consultancy and executive introductions from Alan MacKelworth from Amac Ltd.