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Paul Beare of UK accounting firm Kevin Beare & Co interviews HE Vicki Treadell, British High Commissioner to New Zealand on UKTI’s Business plan competition.

What’s your involvement with Go UK?

As British High Commissioner to New Zealand I attach priority to NZ companies “thinking UK” as part of their internationalisation plans. The GO UK competition is a great way to communicate “why UK”!

How do you think the winners of Go UK will benefit from the prize?

With great partners like Kevin Beare & AMacLimited I know that the winners will get the best support to pursue the opportunity for them in the UK. They will also have access to the advice & services of our UK Trade & Investment team. First class service all round.

Your background is extremely varied. Have you ever seen a competition like this before?

There are one or two other competitions with similar features but none that combines both Government and private sector expertise in the way that GO UK does. This should give the successful company every benefit in realising business success in the UK.

A company is considering entering the competition, but doesn’t believe there will be any mileage in entering: what do you say to them?

First, they have nothing to lose & everything to gain. Our package alone is worth $25k never mind the practical help and advice from a great team that money can’t buy.

The UK economy is getting mixed reviews in the press lately. Do you think Go UK will be of use to the UK economy?

Of course! Every company that establishes a business in the UK brings not just investment, & so a statement of confidence in the UK economy, but the potential of new jobs through business growth from any such investment. More importantly these will be jobs in the private sector where the UK’s economic recovery will be driven from.

Your six month video blog is all about building and developing relationships. Would you agree that Go UK competition is largely about expanding a business by maximising relationships, for all contestants, not just the winners?

Yes. Participation in the competition will lead to new contacts, not just with our UK Trade & Investment team, both here in NZ/Australia and across our network in the UK, but also our partners in the competition. The connections that the latter bring may further open other doors.

How would you advise those people who do not win the competition, to build on their experience?

To stay in touch and to pursue their interests with my UK Trade & Investment Team. We would still like to work with them and to see what we can do to help them internationalise and grow their business from a UK platform. So, you don’t have to be a winner to have a relationship with us.

What would you say to those who weren’t fortunate to win?

As indicated above, stay in touch & let’s see how we can yet work together. The UK remains one of the best global destinations for business and a gateway to global markets. We are all looking to key emerging markets like India & China but just look at where they are making their investments – both are top 5 investors in the UK, all the major Indian and Chinese corporate have a presence in the UK. I think that says it all!