GlobalScot Makes Business Success in Poland Possible

GlobalScot Makes Business Success in Poland Possible

Martin Oxley, a new Warsaw-based GlobalScot recently hosted two days of seminars and 1-2-1 meetings with Scottish companies on ‘Doing Business In Poland’.

Martin is a multilingual international business director who has spent the last 20 years working in a number of leadership roles in the blue chip global health companies, Roche, GSK, BMS & top-ranking CEE companies Polpharma SA & PlivaBarr. He has consulted to a number of start-up operations / IPO’s in the pharmacy, product development, healthcare/service & biotech sectors in Europe & USA. Martin has lived in Central Europe for the last 15 years and for the last 4 years has led the British-Polish Chamber of Commerce (BPCC) as its CEO to become the pre-eminent British Chamber of Commerce in Continental Europe. He is a recognized expert and speaker on CEE.

Over two days, Martin met 10 companies and also Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International staff. He gave a thorough overview of the current economic picture in Poland and areas of potential for Scotland across many key sectors. Following the seminar, Martin met companies for half hour appointments to give tailored business advice for the Polish market. The companies were very forthcoming with positive feedback on Martin’s visit:

• "It was useful in terms of info regarding the polish economy and culture for business. Also info for surrounding countries."

• "Martin had read the executive summary I supplied in advance and was therefore able to be proactive on a number of areas specific to our offering."

• "It provides me with the useful contacts that can bring future opportunities for collaborative projects benefiting from EU funds."

• "Meeting Martin was useful in terms of contacts in Poland."

• "We have only just started working with GlobalScot, but I would recommend GlobalScot as an excellent vehicle for doing business in other countries."

• "Any company interested in the Polish market should take the full advantage of Martin’s expertise, network and support he offered to the Scottish companies. It is unique and bespoke assistance to access the real business opportunities."

Martin can also act as a contact point for information and opportunities in the UEFA Championships to be held in Poland and the Ukraine in 2012.

Through the BPCC, Martin outlines below some of the services the BPCC can make available to Scottish companies wishing to investigate the market of, or expand into Poland.

"Once a company has gone through a market diagnostic or taken the decision to enter the market, BPCC are in a position to provide business incubator services to enable the company to start up with rapid growth and avoid some of the barriers which the local market may present. The service is designed for each individual company on a specific needs basis and can include:

- Virtual office/hot desk
- Telephone answering/re-routing/email
- Meeting rooms
- Promotion services; website; online marketing
- Sales desk
- Outsourced invoicing and accounting

The service works best when the company has a minimum of one person on the ground in Poland however the BPCC has done distance start ups on behalf of companies before as a way of testing the market. The companies in the incubator so far have demonstrated strong sales growth."

If you wish to connect with Martin or indeed a member of the International Networks team please email angela.collier@scotent.co.uk.