Key Outcomes

The Key outcomes will be a European Export Communication Review Scheme set up and operating principally in Poland, Hungary and Spain; the development of an on-line resources and toolkit for companies and consultants in five countries; the establishment of intra-European networks of ECR consultants and management agencies for the sharing of ideas and good practice between countries.

The specific aims are:

• To transfer a successful business support system to support SMEs in accession countries and Spain.

• To enhance the competitiveness and communicative effectiveness of international SMEs within the partner countries through the provision of an effective language and cultural audit scheme (ECR scheme) supported by multilingual on-line resources.

• To review the feasibility of a Chamber-based audit scheme in Poland, Hungary and Spain; to adapt and produce the training materials in Polish, Hungarian and Spanish and to implement and trial these materials by training 15 consultants and carry out pilot Export Communications Reviews (ECRs) of 30 SMEs in the three countries.

• To review, adapt and update existing English language and Icelandic materials, resources and models with particular emphasis on trade with the accession countries.

• To provide on-line access for companies to trained Export Communications Consultants in all countries to access necessary tools and resources to complete ECRs.

• To provide on-line access for companies to resources and sources of information to assist them in expanding their export potential and overcoming language and cultural barriers to trade.

• To enable the exchange of best practice between chambers in the UK, Iceland, Hungary, Spain and Poland.

• To create a European network between new and 'mature' language audit countries.

• To develop a trans European scheme for training audit scheme managers and a network of such managers across Europe.