Member Article

Rotherham business set for international expansion

Rotherham exhibition company The Expo People has had a hugely successful first six months in business and has secured major new opportunities internationally, thanks to support from RiDO’s ERDF funded Growth and Prosperity in Rotherham (Soft Landing Zone) project.

The company, based at Moorgate Crofts Business Centre, has won a major new project to organise the UK pavilion for CISSIE (China International Special Steel Technology Conference and Exhibition), a major steel manufacturers’ exhibition in China, which will be held in Shanghai in September 2014.

The Expo People are hoping to take a convention of at least 12 UK metal and manufacturing companies, including a number from South Yorkshire, to China for the event for which they have secured a partnership with Connect China.

The company will organise all the support that exhibitors need, including securing interpreters, exhibition stand design, travel and accommodation.

The Expo People have been able to access support through RiDO’s Soft Landing Zone project, which aims to assist Rotherham companies in accessing international markets and also helps foreign inward investors who choose to locate to RiDO’s business centres.

RiDO has commissioned research into the events industry in the Middle East, starting with Abu Dhabi, which involves sourcing exhibitions and events companies and looking at the opportunities to partner with them.

Paul Tomes, managing director of The Expo People, said: “The first six months in business have been more successful than we could have imaged and we’re generating lots of new opportunities, both in the UK and internationally. The support from RiDO’s Soft Landing Zone has been invaluable and means we are optimistic we can secure major new contracts with exhibition companies in the Middle East, thanks to the research they have done on our behalf.”

Paul has spent the last seven years in the events industry and has recently been shortlisted in the Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards, run by Rotherham Youth Enterprise.

RiDO’s business development co-ordinator Julia Millea said: “There is huge potential for The Expo People in the Middle East and Paul has a lot of experience in organising events in this area. The CISSIE exhibition in China is a very exciting venture too and it would be fantastic to see a strong convention representing South Yorkshire in Shanghai next year.”

Paul adds: “We’re really busy at the moment planning the convention to China, with lots of interest from local businesses already. We are advising any businesses in the steel or steel technology industries to get in touch with us to find out more.”

The 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 Marina Wood .