Business English Consulting Service Ltd (BECS) are the second successful applicants to the TDA International Trade Bursary.

Encouraging more Torbay companies to identify new country export markets is a key objective of Torbay Council’s economic strategy to deliver business growth.

BECS is an award-winning corporate training company delivering tailor-made solutions to the public and private sector. BECS has been based in Paignton since 2004 and delivers courses to a wide range of industry sectors worldwide.

Torbay’s Elected Mayor, Gordon Oliver, said: “The International Trade Bursary will support BECS to grow and reach new markets. We are excited by the opportunities Torbay based companies have to sell their products and services overseas and we will continue to support these efforts. Helping them attend invaluable delegations across the world will help them network, arrange meetings and convert business leads. ”

The company has been working closely with the Department for International Trade and are participants on their Export for Growth programme. They have also had extensive market research undertaken by the British Embassy in Paris. The findings suggest to target the Belgium training sector first, before entering the French market where the company aims to tackle the French hi tech cluster in the South of France.

An Swinnen, Managing Director of BECS, said: “Working with the Department for International Trade has helped us conduct research and identify target markets. The International Trade Bursary will support our objectives to develop activities in Belgium. This business trip will enable meetings with potential new corporate clients and identify additional buyers.”

An will be using the bursary to follow up on market research conducted by the Department for International Trade, have meetings with target clients and partners and also attend evening networking events.

Jason Buck, Investment Development Manager, TDA said: “We are pleased to support An on her visit to Belgium which is a new target export market for BECS. It also offers BECS an opportunity to open up a new market away from the Arabic Gulf, where BECS has exported its services to. We look forward to learning of her new export wins which will provide additional growth to her business.”

The TDA International Trade Bursary is available to Torbay based SMEs looking to enter a new country market. Companies interested in applying should contact Jason Buck, TDA Investment Development Manager on 01803 208799 or email jason.buck@tda.uk.net

To find out more about how TDA can provide export support visit www.tda-business.com/export-support