UKTI Commercial Officers, Business Development Visits and OMIS
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Commercial Officers
Commercial Officers are posted in British Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates world-wide. Their role is to engage and network with ministry depeartments, national agencies, NGOs, corporate organisations, industry, institutes and companies in their markets. Commercial Officers gather intelligence on the sectors they cover on behalf of UK plc. In so doing, they identify specific opportunities where UK suppliers of products and services can engage with markets in order to trade through direct selling to customers, agents and distributors or by forming partnerships or joint ventures.
Business Development Visits
Each year, commercial officers arrange Business Development Visits or BDVs to the UK to meet UK education and training suppliers of products and services. This enables them to update their knowledge of the UK education system and to pass on current market intelligence which can assist companies, institutes and organisations to better develop their market entry strategies.
There are approximately 92 Commercial Officers world-wide who have a portfolio that includes education and skills as a sector. TVET UK is well positioned to take advantage of this network on behalf of its members by arranging group clinics or one-to-one appointments when commercial officers are in the UK.
Overseas Market Introductory Service (OMIS)
In order to assist companies, institutes and organisations to develop their international market potential, Commercial Officers encourages them to commission an OMIS. An OMIS is a flexible business tool that allows organisations to communicate directly with Commercial Officers who are located in embassies, high commissions and consulates across the world. An OMIS is a cost-effective means of guiding companies through the process of accessing a new market for products or services, and covers initial research through to making the first visit to a market.
Under an OMIS the following services can be provided:
- a report on international markets tailored to the company's needs
- a programme arranging for a visit to international markets
- company presentations and seminars overseas
- contacts for relevant international bodies and decision makers
The cost of the service is in five bands which equate to commercial officers' time:
LEVEL 1: £250 - Designed to accommodate smaller pieces of work, for example: A company may already have carried out some of its own research and may need help to et through to contacts.
LEVEL 2: £500 - Designed to supplement previous OMIS activities, as part of another market entry such as TAP or MVS
LEVEL 3: £1000 - The most popular level and the one we recommend for most companies entering a new market. experience shows that this will give them the essential information and contacts required, for example:- Tailored market information for your product or service.
- A detailed list of potential business partners and other
- useful contacts, with comments, pen pictures, etc
- Introduction of your product or service to potential
- business partners, in consultation with you, leading to appointments during a visit.
- Advice and support from your UKTI overseas team before and during your visit to the market.
LEVEL 4: £1,500 - Introduced because there is quite a significant difference between the amount of work involvedin the £1,000 and £2,000 levels. This might include:
- More in-depth research into the market potential for your product;
- Research into the national Standards as applicable to your product.
LEVEL 5: £2,000 - Companies wishing to look at a market in greater detail will benefit from this more in-depth help. In addition to the above you could also receive: More in-depth research into the market potential for your product; Research into the national Standards as applicable to your product. More in-depth assessments of potential partners after consultation with you Possible use of UKTI facilities in Embassies, etc, for promotional events, eg displays or receptions
