Fully managed IT service provider Netshield, has been successfully exporting to Europe in the last 12 months, with the support and guidance of local Chambers’ based both in the UK and Europe.
With headquarters based in Aldridge, Netshield has research the market and regulations extensively, organised seminars, setup an office and built relationships with local businesses and vendor partners in Brussels. Belgium is the focus of Netshield’s European Strategy due to it being centrally located in Europe and it has advantageous transportation links.
Throughout the process local Chamber such as the British Chamber of Commerce in Belgium has provided a proficient level of support, by offering invaluable advice, access to local knowledge and helping Netshield build a strategic approach to exporting too the Belgian market.
In the planning stages of expansion, local Birmingham Chamber of Commerce also provided Richard Carty, Netshield’s Commercial Director, with guidance on how to approach the new market and who are the necessary contacts.
‘We are pleased with the success in recent months, by strategically and proactively exporting we have secured a number of IT managed service contracts in the EU and have increased our customer base by 10% since the start of the financial year in April, which has helped boosted our turnover and growth’ Commented Richard Carty.
‘Based on recent and forecasted sales and the growing interest in our fully managed IT services, we will be looking to review our resources both in the UK and in Belgium and look to grow our team in the next 12 months’ adds Richard Carty.
Netshield was recently recognised for their European expansion efforts and was shortlisted for Midlands Business Insiders International Trade Award in the Technology category.