Member Article

Boston conference brings boost for Rotherham businesses

Rotherham companies’ chances of securing business support overseas have been boosted after delegates from Rotherham Investment Development Office (RiDO) attended the National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) international conference held in Boston, USA last week.

Paul Woodcock, director of planning, regeneration and culture at Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC), was one of the keynote speakers at the conference. He described how the ERDF-funded Growth and Prosperity in Rotherham (Soft Landing Zone) project works by assisting Rotherham companies with accessing international markets.

He also outlined to delegates how the project helps foreign inward investors who choose to locate to RiDO’s business centres, as Rotherham hosts the UK’s only accredited Soft Landing Zone.

The NBIA’s International Conference on Business Incubation was attended by 635 industry professionals from 43 countries who gathered to learn, share ideas, network with colleagues and be inspired to assist entrepreneurs in new and better ways.

Paul Woodcock attended alongside Rotherham Councillor Gerald Smith. During the visit they made some very productive links which included holding discussions with representatives from El Paso (Texas) on behalf of kitchenware designer and manufacturer Yormii, based at the Matrix Business Centre in Dinnington.

They also made useful connections for Vitalife Teas, based at RiDO’s Fusion@Magna Business Centre with businesses in Canada and Malaysia.

Paul Woodcock said: “It was an honour to be asked to speak at this global conference. It was a great opportunity to network, make contacts and help to raise the profile of Rotherham and our business centres on an international basis.

“It also enabled us to make connections with other incubation centres in order to support Rotherham businesses who want to expand or set up operations in overseas markets.”

The ERDF funded Growth and Prosperity in Rotherham (Soft Landing Zone) project is supported financially by the European Union. It has attracted £842k investment from the European Regional Development Fund as part of Europe’s support for the region’s economic development through the Yorkshire and Humber ERDF Programme 2007-13.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mark Lane .