Growing Chinese-owned businesses which are based in Birmingham are being offered a unique service to help them grow.
The Birmingham Chinese Society is set to provide what is thought to be the first ever trained business advisers in the UK specifically to help the Chinese community.
It is hoped that the two advisers, who will work from the society’s city centre headquarters, will help new and existing businesses to set up and expand as well as aid investment into the city from China and the Far East.
The chief executive of the Birmingham Chinese Society, Irene Chu, said the service would help Chinese-run businesses play a role in helping the region out of recession.
The region, home to more than 20,000 Chinese people, has already become one of the best in the UK for attracting investment from China and the Far East.
High profile links include Shanghai Automotive, the owners of the former Rover group, and the takeover of Birmingham City Football Club by Hong Kong billionaire Carson Yeung.
Ms Chu said: “We think these will be the first ever trained advisers specifically to help Chinese businesses in the UK.
“They will help to strengthen Birmingham’s position as a global centre for trade with China and the Far East.
“We hope that will attract more investment and create more jobs so that Chinese businesses can help lead the economic revival.”
The two advisers, Janice Yao and Laurence Lau, who both already work for the society, will be trained to gain the Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative accreditation, which is the recognised UK standard for business support and enterprise. They will be able to offer support to a full range of business, from start-ups to international firms, and across a whole variety of areas including accessing finance and business development.
The significance of the city’s ties with China were emphasised by the leader of the city council, Mike Whitby, who addressed the Chinese society’s official dinner for the Chinese New Year in February.
Cllr Whitby said Birmingham and China had “some of the most sophisticated links now than any city in the UK”.
The initiative is funded by the regional development agency Advantage West Midlands and delivered through Business Link.
The development is supported by successful Birmingham Chinese businesswoman Xin Chen.
She is the general manager at Beijing Food Products, based in Small Health, which makes organic Chinese food.
The company was set up with help from the Birmingham Chinese Society and now trades throughout the UK.
“This is a great development for Chinese business people in the West Midlands as well as the regional economy, and is another first for the Birmingham Chinese community,” explained Ms Chen.
