Access Wales Programme offers support for expanding Businesses
The Access Wales Programme was launched at the beginning of October 2009 and is one of the services offered by International Business Wales (IBW).
The objective of this innovative programme is to offer support to businesses with their expansion plans and to encourage them to spend time in Wales, in turn testing the Welsh business market and learning more about what Wales has to offer.
There are a number of services offered by the Programme:
- One free desk space for up to 12 months in a choice of 11 Technium centres, Cardiff Medicentre, @Wales Digital Media Initiative @Wales Digital Media Initiative, Cardiff Business Technology Centre or The Engineering Centre for Manufacturing & Materials (ECM2).*
- An intensive 1 – 2 week induction programme upon arrival in Wales, prepared in advance and tailored to the specific needs of the business
- Free packages of business support through the Welsh Assembly Government plus through Access Wales’ professional consultancy partners
- A dedicated Access Wales Manager who will provide assistance for the duration of the business’ stay
In order to qualify for the Access Wales Programme, businesses must be operating within a high-tech or knowledge-based sector, be currently located outside of Wales and can demonstrate a competitive advantage within their market, amongst other criteria.
A total of 31 businesses have applied to Access Wales so far, 3 of which have been accepted onto the programme, with the remainder still going through the application process.
Commenting on the Programme, Ian Williams, Director North Wales, Enterprise & IBW said: “Please call us so that we can help you make more money. We believe that Access Wales is the best scheme of its kind in the UK for any company looking to establish a foothold in Europe - free desk space at an incubator, free consultancy and free professional relationship management which will ensure that your representative makes the most of all the business opportunities available in Europe. Access Wales takes the risk out of developing a market in Europe.”
For further details and to see whether your business may qualify for the programme please click here for more information on Access Wales.
*Subject to Availability
