33 Queen Street
London
EC4R 1AP
Tel: 0207 248 4444
To find out more about how this local Chamber can help:
Profile
The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) was founded in 1881 to support businesses in the UK capital through the provision of business information, lobbying for a conducive business climate, and the promotion of international trade. It is now London’s premier support and networking organisation with a membership of 2,300 companies, ranging from corporates to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In the last five years LCCI has organised 150 international trade events, taken 50 trade delegations overseas, and issued over half a million international trade documents. Through its role as a key partner in the Enterprise Europe Network operation in London the LCCI also provides support to SMEs on EU legislation, programmes, grants, loans and business opportunities.
Services for Exporters
The International Business Team (IBT) at the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) runs a comprehensive programme of international trade seminars, training and missions backed up by an export documentation and trade facilitation service. Whether a business is already trading internationally or is planning to do so in the future, the programme is designed to help companies open up new markets for their products and services.
Trade missions - Trade missions are group visits to emerging and high growth markets worldwide. They offer new and existing exporters opportunities to visit countries to conduct market research for their products or services, appoint an agent or distributor, make new contacts or visit existing clients. The IBT organises up to ten missions per year to markets including Brazil, Chile, China, East Africa, Russia, Turkey, Qatar, Vietnam and West Africa. The schedule changes every year and covers all areas of business.
International trade events - The programme offers companies a programme of country-specific events, seminars and receptions. The events provide access to key information on the business opportunities and market entry strategies, which is delivered by expert speakers from government and the private sector. UK businesses with global ambitions can use International Business events as a platform for their first step in achieving international success.
Business clinics - Business clinics offer one-to-one meetings with an experienced trade adviser. They provide an opportunity to obtain advice on how to exploit new commercial opportunities or to expand existing business in a specific country.
Training courses - Each year the IBT runs a series of training courses to equip companies with all the information needed to make international trade as easy and straightforward as possible.This year’s training course schedule includes International Sales and Marketing, International VAT, Import Procedures, Export Documents and Letters of Credit.
Translation service - This is a professional cost-effective translation service where work is carried out by language experts who provide over 100 different language combinations for a variety of requirements including technical, commercial and legal documents.
Business Co-operation Database - Through the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), business leaders can submit their company's profile and business request to the Business Co-operation Database for Europe and beyond. The service is free of charge and is an effective way of finding distributors, agents, joint venture partners, reciprocal production partners, subcontractors and outsourcing opportunities.
SME feedback to the European Commission - One of the important roles of the EEN is to report problems experienced by local businesses when trading in the Internal Market, to the European Commission. Through an SME Feedback tool details of problems encountered by businesses are passed on to the relevant institutions in Brussels with a view to future problem solutions.
European projects - The LCCI is a partner of the European ECHOES project related to the promotion of eco-design to SMEs from the construction sector. The objective of the project is to enhance the competitiveness of SMEs in the construction sector by promoting eco-design through a series of events and special advisory services to SMEs.
Export documents - The LCCI is the biggest issuer and processer of Certificates of Origin and ATA Carnets in the UK. Certificates of Origin are required for many exports from the UK and, where trade agreements are in place, can gain a preferential tariff advantage in the overseas market. ATA Carnets – passports for goods – ensure a smooth passage through Customs when professional equipment, samples or goods for overseas trade fairs or exhibitions are temporarily imported into 73 foreign markets. Both types of document can be processed on-line.
LCCI international membership - International membership offers professional, independent, affordable services that focus on supporting companies. International membership is offered to non-UK companies that do not have a UK registered office or any UK-based representation.
