Upstate Continues to Build Overseas Relationships with Recent Trip to UK

Like Upstate South Carolina, the northwest region of the United Kingdom has evolved from a predominately textile-based industry to an area considered a leader in advanced manufacturing with a concentration in the materials, automotive and aerospace industries. The similarities between the Upstate and the United Kingdom have made it possible for the two regions to offer each other ample business, trade and investment relationships.

Upstate Alliance’s own CEO, John Lummus and Business Recruitment Officer, Jacob Hickman recently returned from a trip to the northwest region of the United Kingdom where the two met with companies from a variety of industries, including automotive, aerospace and advanced materials to expand the Upstate’s relationship network in the UK. Lummus and Hickman also met with the UK Trade & Investment Group (UKTI), a government department that provides expert trade advice and practical support to UK-based companies looking to grow their business overseas.

(Upstate Alliance CEO John Lummus [right] toured a number of facilities on a recent trip to the UK, including those at Alstom)

“The Upstate houses over 30 UK companies and we’ve been working diligently the past few years to open even more doors with UKTI and the Manchester and Liverpool Chambers of Commerce,” said Lummus.  “During this trip we established a great working relationship with UKTI and were able to share the litany of services Upstate Alliance offers, such as gathering critical market insight, finding the perfect real estate location, establishing business connections and offering support to make the move as easy as possible.”

“Upstate Alliance’s growing relationship with UKTI will be a valuable resource in expanding its network in the UK, enabling the Upstate to reach broader business audiences and enhanced recruiting efforts,” added Hickman. “There are a lot of great synergies and opportunities for future partnerships between the Upstate and this region in terms of trade and investment. We will continue to nurture these relationships and are already planning to host a delegation during the first part of 2015.”

(The Port of Liverpool was one of the stops on Upstate Alliance’s recent trip to the UK)

For more information about the Upstate’s global business climate and current international initiatives please visit https://www.upstatescalliance.com/about-upstate/information-downloads#business-climate.