Chinese students to help UK businesses

Chinese-speaking students are to be placed with UK companies to help them break into the Chinese market or find new investment, Trade Minister Lord Livingston has announced.

The GREAT Ambassadors scheme is a pilot programme which will be run by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and the University of Sheffield to provide valuable and cost-effective access to Chinese language, cultural and business knowledge.

China has been chosen as the target market for the pilot as their import demand is expected to dwarf all the other emerging powers, rising by $3.4 trillion between 2010 and 2020. China is also expected to invest $1.25 trillion overseas in the next decade.

China has more students studying in the UK than any other overseas group, with more than 70,000 according to the most recent figures.

Trade Minister Lord Livingston said:

“China offers great opportunities for UK companies of all sizes, with growing demand for brand Britain. Chinese-speaking students can help UK businesses to overcome the linguistic and cultural barriers that could stand between them and the Chinese market.”

Lord Livingston launched the scheme at the University of Sheffield to an audience of businesses who have already signed up to the scheme.

This includes Chatsworth House which featured in Pride and Prejudice and has a large number of Chinese visitors each year; Gripple which is looking to export their fasteners to Chinese vineyards; and New Era Development which is creating a China town in Sheffield.

The University of Sheffield was chosen for the programme as it has one of the largest Chinese student populations in the UK as well as one of the largest and most established schools of East Asian Studies in the UK.

Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Sheffield Paul White said:

“I am delighted that the University of Sheffield has been chosen to be the host institution for the Great Ambassadors China pilot project…the project will not only provide a wide range of long term benefits for our students who will be getting the very best foundations to their future careers, but it will also have a lasting impact on the businesses involved.”

If successful, the scheme may be rolled out to other universities wishing to take part and trialled with other major non-EU international student groups such as India or Malaysia.

Companies wishing to participate in the programme should contact Yiyun Ling y.ling@sheffield.ac.uk at the University of Sheffield or visit the University of Sheffield website.

Click here to read the full press release.

Date: 25th November 2014