Terms & Conditions

What is an export communications review?

An export communications review provides companies with impartial and objective advice about addressing language and cultural barriers when trading with overseas markets.

In the review, a company learns where they are strong, where they are weak and where they can improve their current systems for dealing with the issues that arise when trading with different languages and cultures (letters, faxes, phone calls, packaging, exhibitions, representation, literature, websites etc).

Depending upon the size of company and the extent of its product range and export activity, a review may involve up to 3 visits by the consultant.

How does the service work?

The BCC maintains a register of consultants (Accredited Export Communications Consultants) who are experienced in the language and cultural needs of international trade and who have been specially trained in the skills of export communications review. The consultants are also competent to advise on the resources and facilities that are available to companies to improve their language and cultural capabilities. Companies seeking assistance under the scheme will be allocated an accredited consultant, by the BCC, and the consultant will be commissioned to conduct a review to meet the needs of the company.

The consultant will carry out an export communications review at the company's premises. Within 10 working days, they will submit a report with recommendations.

Confidentiality and Impartiality

Results and reports arising from the export communications review are confidential to the client company, the consultant and the BCC. Client companies are assured that this confidentiality will be maintained at all times.

The consultant is required to provide the client company with impartial recommendations that will meet the client needs in the most effective way. When identifying providers of language services, the consultant will make selections from the national database of such providers and offer the client company alternative choices.

Payment

Payment of the company contribution must be made, to the BCC, before the start of the review. When the review is finished the BCC require a certificate of completion to be returned within seven days of receiving the report.

Feedback

A condition of the award of the subsidy is that the company responds to a request from the BCC for information on the progress that has been made as a consequence of the review. Follow-up information requests will be made up to twelve months following completion of the review.
To find out how to apply for the Export Communication Review, click here.