International Trade Upskill staff to grow international sales

Businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire that want to grow through overseas trade can take advantage of a training programme to upskill staff.

The team at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Fidelitas Training to offer a programme that will take staff to the next level when it comes to their skills and knowledge.

Fidelitas Training owner, Stephen Townsley, grew up in the Coventry area but now lives in Germany and delivers the eight-module International Trade Operations & Procedures (ITOPS) course alongside a range of professionals with experience in the sector.

Completion of the course, which is based on the practical, real-life demands of international trade, leads to a double certificated qualification from ITOPS and the British Chambers of Commerce.

It also gives those who complete it the confidence to grow and develop their exporting and importing markets and to then look to enhance their skills further with additional training.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce is currently signing up the first cohort of professionals to take part in the course, which will kick off this October. They will work through a range of workshops that include customs and excise processes, how to move goods, payments and procedures, including how to maintain profitability.

The sessions are interactive, flexible and support people in how to do the job, including on how to react if something goes wrong.

Stephen said: “I am delighted to have agreed this partnership to deliver training to Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce members.

“Although we are based in Germany, I know the Coventry and Warwickshire area very well so this is a bit like ITOPS is coming home for me!

“The importance of international trade to any regional economy is huge so it’s vitally important that we get more and more businesses doing it.

“They can reach out for support but it’s also important to have members of the team who are skilled and trained in how to operate in the real world of international trade. That’s what we provide.

“The sessions are fun, interactive and practical – and they are delivered by people who have experience of trading overseas, which is important.

“We really look forward to working with the Chamber to deliver this programme and to add to the 1,500 delegates that have achieved the ITOPS qualification.”

Adele Dodds, of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The Chamber is the place where all businesses in the region belong and they know they can come to us for advice, support and guidance on anything that can help them to grow.

“International trade is something that we’d encourage businesses of all sizes and sectors to look at and we’re really pleased to be able to bring this new, practical programme to members to help them in doing that.

“We’re in the process of signing up our first cohort so I’d urge any businesses interested to get in touch straight away to be part of the first programme.”

For more information or to sign up email adeled@cw-chamber.co.uk or call 024 7665 4321.