Sending UK students abroad vital to UK economy: BCC

The BCC has encouraged the UK government to place more efforts into sending young people on international placement schemes as part of a bid to ensure the employers of tomorrow build their companies with a global perspective in mind.

John Longworth, director general of the BCC, said: “As the world becomes an increasingly open and interconnected market place, it is vital that companies think global and develop a mindset that is naturally geared towards exporting and entering new markets.​

“We should look to encourage more people into international placement opportunities, as this would provide global connections to the exporters of tomorrow.”​

4,500 members​

A survey of more than 4,500 of the BCC’s members, released yesterday (Monday August 5), claimed that companies with global experience are far more likely to export than those with little international experience.

The BCC’s members include a number of food manufacturing businesses, such as the premium crisp maker – recently sold to Investcorp for £100M​ –Tyrrells, Styles Farmhouse Ice Cream and Manchester-based sweet manufacturer William Santus & Co.

The survey found that the three main factors that encouraged businesses to trade internationally among current potential exporters were collaboration with overseas partners (78%), previous work experience abroad (60%) and participating in an international business group (54%).

It also found that 28% of current exporters surveyed had lived abroad for more than a year.

“It is fascinating to see that nearly a third of business people who trade overseas have lived or worked abroad for more than a year,”​ said Longworth. “To persuade potential and reluctant exporters to become dynamic, international traders, we must foster the global connections that are so valuable to those looking to export.”​

Meanwhile, 68% of non-exporters who expressed little ambition to do so have never lived abroad. 

Unemployed graduates​

The BCC is calling for an international business placement scheme, which it claimed could help unemployed graduates undertake research in new markets.

Meanwhile, the Institute of Food Science and Technology called on food and drink manufacturers to boost the number​, quality and range of work experience placements for students, after surveying 80 employers.