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University helps businesses to think internationally

University helps businesses to think internationally

Posted on 21 May 2014

The University of York is offering a special support package to businesses aiming to explore international markets this summer.

Jingwen Feng & Xu Wang

The University’s Management School and Student Internship Bureau can provide access to, and contribute toward the costs of, a skilled and enthusiastic student to help undertake a range of short term projects that will help a business ‘think internationally’.

Previous projects have included search engine optimisation in a range of languages, researching export markets, finding agents and suppliers in a wide range of countries as well as preparing marketing materials and websites for new readers.

One York-based business and professional services company, Garbutt and Elliot, has already benefitted from the scheme. Garbutt and Elliot engaged Jingwen Feng (MSc in Finance) and Xu Wang (MA in Comparative and International Social Policy) to develop a China Desk for the company and to create content for an inward investment web page in Mandarin. The project also required them to devise and arrange the recording of video content for inclusion on the web page and to produce a report summarising research on the top 50 Chinese family businesses in the UK.

G&E Senior Partner David Dickson said: “For an internship to work it has to be of benefit to all parties. Jingwen’s and Xu’s outstanding commitment has enabled us to begin development of a reputation as a trusted advisor to Chinese firms investing in the UK.”

Jingwen Feng said: “What I enjoyed most at G&E was working closely and productively with people in a friendly office environment. We were trained to tackle a project within a short space of time in terms of research, video filming, webpage construction and marketing. In the end, we were happy to see the project succeed in attracting Chinese investors' attention. The summer program also enhanced my skills in team building, professional networking, business awareness and communication. I feel any of these skills are crucial for students in management school, and thanks to this, I got my first job straight after graduation.”

Xu Wang added: “My experience at G&E was a highlight of my time in the UK. The whole team worked closely together and we had social activities nearly every week. Our supervisor, Ann, was so supportive and we managed to finish our project in a short period of time. I now work as a financial business development manager, and the experience at G&E definitely helped me to get this job.”

Backed by UK Trade and Investment, this summer’s programme will offer some financial support toward the costs of taking on a student intern as well as the University’s support in finding the right student to tackle the project.