Welcome to the Friday Brief for 31 January 2014.
Looking ahead to MACH 2014, in this week’s brief we draw MACH exhibitors attention to the Exhibitor & Training Day which will be held at the NEC on 18 February. This is a valuable opportunity for exhibitors to learn how best to maximise their presence at the Exhibition and how to gain coverage in the trade press attending the event.
This week has seen attention focused on encouragements to UK industry to develop its overseas business and boost exports. UKTI’s launch this week of “Britain Open for Business: The Next Phase” represents the mid-term view of trade strategy. We have links to the document in this week’s Friday Brief.
UKTI has also sent us details this week of an important trade mission to Eastern Europe in March. Entitled “Emerging Europe : Mega Mission 2014” the trade mission will cover four rapidly developing cities in Eastern Europe and give excellent opportunities to visit companies and make local contacts. The application deadline has been extended to 10 February and is part subsidised by UKTI.
The MTA has been completing the final preparations this week for the Annual Dinner & Awards which will be held next Thursday at the ICC – Birmingham. We look forward to welcoming Members at what promises to be a really fantastic evening.
Finally, in this week’s economic review we have details of the ONS’s figures for the UK’s GDP in the fourth quarter of 2013 and Data from Eurostat on European Business Investment and Profitability for 3rd Quarter 2013.
Have a good weekend.