EIGHTEEN companies from the north have taken part in a near market trade mission organised by the NI Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Birmingham in partnership with Ulster Bank.
The mission, which is part of NI Chamber’s Learn Grow Excel initiative, is among a series of trade visits led by the Chamber and Ulster Bank to help firms exploit opportunities in larger cities in Britain.
The delegation comprised companies from across a range of sectors from construction to manufacturing to business services and included Acheson& Glover, Anaconda Equipment, Cherry Pipes, the McAvoy Group, Graham Construction, Cunningham Covers and Radius Plastics.
During the two-day visit, which included a networking reception hosted by Pinsent Masons, firms met representatives from some of the UK’s largest companies.
Among them were Carillion, a leading integrated support services company; Balfour Beatty, a multinational infrastructure group with capabilities in construction services, support services and infrastructure investments; Bouygues, one of the leading construction companies in the UK; and Willmott Dixon, the construction, residential and property support giant.
The group also met Robin Lapish, supply chain manager for HS2, the new north-south rail link which is the biggest and most ambitious infrastructure project in the UK and the first major railway to be built north of London in over 150 years.
Sandra Scannell, head of business services at the NI Chamber, said: “We're delighted to showcase so many of the excellent firms which took part in the trade mission to Birmingham which presented significant opportunities for delegate companies to establish new business opportunities.”
Ulster Bank's Nigel Walsh added: “One of the main barriers to businesses selling outside their core markets is that they’re not aware of the full extent of the opportunities. That’s why we’re really pleased to be playing our part in supporting these near-market visits, helping to build both networks and confidence among our local businesses.”
