Partner Article

InternChina wins British Council contract with Hub support

Manchester-based internship organisation InternChina has secured a lucrative contract with the British Council following support from the Business Growth Hub, part of Manchester Growth Company.

Established in 2007, the company delivers work experience programmes to UK students looking to work in some of China’s fastest growing cities, including Qingdao, Zhuhai, Chengdu and Dalian. The business has four offices across China and holds partnerships with many of the UK’s leading universities, including the University of Manchester, De Montfort University, the University of Sussex and the University of Central Lancashire.

Students and graduates are offered the chance to gain insight into traditional Chinese culture, as well as experiencing a thriving business environment. The scheme offers support before, during and after their studies, with a particular focus on accommodation and insurance.

Managing Director of InternChina Jamie Bettles has been supported by the Hub’s mentoring development executive Andy Hall. Andy identified the challenges facing the business and matched Jamie with a mentor. Jamie also attended two of the Hub’s masterclasses on law and tendering for small businesses. This enabled Jamie to apply these skills into his British Council contract bid, which the company subsequently won.

This funding has enabled the business to set out its plans for future growth, as it aims to develop a scheme that will allow Chinese students to study in Manchester. The firm is also targeting international expansion in the US and Australia, working with Hub partner the Department for International Trade.

Business Growth Hub is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Jamie Bettles, Managing Director of InternChina, said: “Having placed 100 UK students directly into internships in China last year, we are now looking at more ambitious targets, and have global expansion well in our sights. We are thrilled to have won the contract with the British Council and this has provided a massive boost to the team.

“The mentoring that Business Growth Hub provided was fantastic. The ongoing support from Andy and the team helped me develop the overall strategy of the business, and also taught me the techniques to make the right connections. We are looking forward to working with the Hub in the future.”

Andy Hall, Growth Adviser at Business Growth Hub, said: “InternChina’s offering is a unique, bespoke service for students. What makes it attractive to universities is the efficiency of the team to get each student the work placement they want, without the hassle of sorting out visas, accommodation and insurance. The popularity of the scheme is plain to see, winning contracts with some of the UK’s leading institutions.

“In particular, there is a growing pool of talent in Manchester, with over 60,000 students attending university in the city. The scheme will help students both across the region, and the UK, broaden their horizons and work in the world’s second biggest economy. With plans to extend this offering internationally, the company is in great shape to build on its strong growth.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Pablo Rodriguez .