Bangkok--30 Apr--Grayling
British Airways has launched a multi-million pound package of measures to help small and medium sized British businesses beat the recession and regain their rightful altitude.
The airline has teamed up with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and BritishAmerican Business (BAB) to offer 5,000 return flights worth up to ?15 million to help UK small and medium enterprises (SMEs) win new business abroad.
British Airways is also calling on other big businesses to throw their weight behind small British companies through a consortium to provide products, services or expertise that UKTI can offer as an additional package of help for SMEs, on top of the services already provided.
Willie Walsh, British Airways’ chief executive, said: “Small and medium businesses are the backbone of the British economy and they are hurting badly. 120 of them close every week. We are working with UKTI and BAB to give flights that will support British business as it tries to spearhead the UK’s recovery. We live in a globalised economy so business opportunities don’t always live on your doorstep. This initiative gives small businesses the chance to promote and sell their products overseas.”
“We’d love to see other British businesses pulling together in order to help the UK out of the recession. We’d be delighted if other companies would join us by offering services and skills that will bring real value and benefit.”
Minister for Trade and Investment Lord Davies of Abersoch, said: “This is a great initiative. Exporting companies are more competitive and resilient. Although the global slowdown has meant increased challenges for businesses, it has also created opportunities internationally for companies that want to expand into other markets.
“Small and medium-sized enterprises can find it hard to break into new markets on their own. It is critical we support them and UKTI’s partnership with British Airways will help our customers to look to new horizons.”
The initiative is designed to support UK SMEs relatively new to exporting or looking to expand into new markets with UKTI’s help. Independent research about UKTI’s customers found that more than half were experiencing increasing demand from abroad.
Peter Hunt, Managing Director of BritishAmerican Business, added: “Our organisation is dedicated to helping our member companies connect and build their international businesses, and we think that this initiative of British Airways will be of great help to our small and medium sized enterprises in developing their overseas businesses, primarily between Britain and the United States.”
British Airways will also announce further plans to benefit British business and travellers throughout the next six months as part of its campaign to get Britain moving again.
Notes to editors:
- British Airways is the UK’s largest international airline, operating to 150 destinations worldwide. Last year it carried 33 million people across its network.
- The European definition of a SME is a company with less than 250 employees, an annual turnover figure of 50 million Euros and balance figure of 43 million Euros. There are also restrictions on ownership.
- UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the government organisation that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy. UKTI also helps overseas companies bring their high quality investment to the UK’s economy — acknowledged as Europe’s best place from which to succeed in global business. UKTI offers expertise and contacts through its extensive network of specialists in the UK, and in British embassies and other diplomatic offices around the world. We provide companies with the tools they require to be competitive on the world stage. For more information please visit www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk
- BritishAmerican Business of New York and London is the leading transatlantic business organization, dedicated to helping its members build their international business. They stand at the heart of the business relationship between the US and the UK and Continental Europe, with a membership of more than 700 companies and 4,500 executives in New York and London, and business networks covering 60 other European and American cities.
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Suthatip Boonsaeng (08-9924-6464) or Wikanda Promkhuntong (08-7276-9849)
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