Nigel Melville, the head of USA Rugby, and former England and Irish Lions player John Bentley will be among the speakers for UKTI’s forthcoming Tackling the US Market event.
The free-to-attend conference will provide businesses with invaluable advice on the opportunities and pitfalls of exporting to the US. It takes place alongside the Rugby World Cup, with fixtures involving the USA and Canada to be played in Leeds.
Stuart Watson, managing partner of EY, the official business advisor of the Rugby World Cup 2015, will speak about the values of the game and why they translate readily into the business world. He will also speak about the rugby charity Wooden Spoon in his capacity as chairman of the Yorkshire region.
The speaker line-up also includes Sarah Dear, managing partner of design agency Elmwood, who will speak about Brand Britain. Mark Simpson, tax partner at law firm Squire Patton Boggs, will guide delegates through the complexities of the US legal and taxation landscape.
There will also be case studies from successful US exporters Ian Harris, CEO of Search Laboratory and Brian Reece, CEO and managing director of Sheffield Precision Medical.
Guests will hear from Finn Weisse, director of the European Representative Office for the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and president of the Council of American States in Europe (CASE). He will speak about the opportunities and challenges of setting up in the US and how CASE can help companies to identify the right location.
There will also be the opportunity to learn about the demographics, culture and manufacturing in the US.
The event takes place from 9am-2pm on Thursday, 24th September at the comfortable Everyman Cinema, Leeds. Lunch will be provided with networking following the presentations.
Mark Robson, regional director UKTI Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “As eyes turn to the region for the Rugby World Cup, this is the ideal opportunity for businesses to explore the export potential in the US and hear about the experiences of those who have already entered the US market with their products and services.
“The latest figures show the considerable contribution exports to the US make to the economy in Yorkshire. Made in Yorkshire and Made in Britain are formidable brands and an increasing number of businesses in the Yorkshire and Humber region are well placed to take advantage of exporting to America.”
Set to benefit the UK economy by £869m, the Rugby World Cup is expected to attract nearly half a million visitors and generate considerable interest in UK products and services worldwide, including the US.
The value of Yorkshire exports to the US increased by 23 per cent over the past year, making exports worth in excess of £2.4bn to the Yorkshire economy.
To book free places at the event please visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tackling-the-us-market-tickets-18003204068
This event is part of the Northern Powerhouse initiative, which encourages economic growth in the Northern regions. The initiative supports businesses with their international trade strategy through sector-based programmes, events and trade missions.
