Sheffield Chamber encourages international trade in the city

Work experience with an international flavour is set to extend the horizons of Sheffield's business.

The Sheffield Chamber of Commerce is working in partnership with Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber to promote the service provided by the International Student Placement Office (ISPO).

Through the ISPO, the Chamber can source enthusiastic and well qualified students who will bring new language skills and cultural knowledge to local business and help encourage successful trade overseas.

For the last six years, ISPO has helped companies develop their international trade in such areas as marketing, sales, market research, communication, IT and engineering, as well as in primary and secondary schools to help pupils with language tradition.

Debra Foster, contracts development manager at Sheffield Chamber, said: "As the world of business becomes increasingly international, the need for UK organisations to develop their overseas contacts becomes greater.

"The ISPO has contacts for over 300 Universities in Europe. The service is a fantastic opportunity for businesses across Sheffield to promote their interests throughout Europe, and provides them with students who possess skills specific to each business."

Ben Littler, ISPO co-ordinator at Derbyshire and Nottingham Chamber, said: "For businesses in Sheffield, particularly those involved in international trade, it presents an opportunity to take advantage of a service that has been aiding East Midlands companies for a number of years.

"In addition to this, the possibility of securing placements in a vibrant and dynamic city such as Sheffield will certainly appeal to our university contacts overseas and to our student applicants."

The students complete the unpaid placement as an obligatory part of their University course, and will be funded by the EU Erasmus Grants for Placements Abroad.