Delegates from ‘Enterprise Estonia’ were in the UK to learn more about how to support and develop the business and trade talent of their country’s SMEs.

Enterprise Estonia is based in the country’s capital Tallinn and is the lead public sector body for the implementation of economic development programmes in Estonia. Its development programmes include the delivery of business support services targeted at start-ups, promoting the growth of existing businesses, innovation and internationalisation.

And it was their determination to strengthen the internationalisation of the country that made the South Yorkshire International Trade Centre (SYITC) a destination on the representatives’ UK itinerary. 

SYITC international trade advisor John Hall said: “Estonia has approximately 30,000 businesses and Enterprise Estonia wants to boost those businesses’ development and export capabilities.

“The delegates visited the SYITC so we could demonstrate our use of diagnostics in the export development work we do with our clients.

“This involved taking them through each stage – how the SYITC identifies the companies that are potential exporters and the diagnostic work we do which gives us a ‘snapshot’ of the company as a good starting point.

“The SYITC then tailors its support and assistance so the centre caters to the individual company’s needs, help them shape and develop an export plan and continue to monitor their progress.

“Enterprise Estonia are at a stage where they wish to provide similar services to help their own companies develop their export strength so this was very much a capacity building trip for them.” 

Enterprise Estonia delegates Heidi Solba, Anu-Maaja Pallock and Dmitry Burnashev also visited other parts of the country to get a broad perspective of how different business support organisations tackled issues like start-ups, business development and export.

Their trip took in visits to Inspiral business consultancy and Rotherham Incubator Business Support Services as well as Business Links in South Yorkshire, North East and London. 

Enterprise Estonia will now review their week’s findings and aim to develop a proposal for a Pilot Diagnostic Programme of their own. 

Added John: “The delegates were supposed to be at the SYITC for two hours but were here for three-and-a-half so we took that as a good sign!

“We had some very interesting discussions and we believe they found their time in the region with both us and Business Link South Yorkshire extremely useful.” 

The SYITC is supported by a three year £7.41million funding package issued jointly by Yorkshire Forward, the European Regional Development Fund and UK Trade and Investment under contract with Business Link South Yorkshire.

The centre provides essential international trade related services including expert advice, market information, research and grant support.