Jay Acharya is the director of ASPIRE Consulting and Training Ltd. ASPIRE uses a select group of associates with specific skills to help deliver training on programs around the world. Having been in people and business development for almost 20 years Jay understands the value of having a fully engaged workforce and the importance that training can make to an organisation.

In 2017, Jay attended the Trade Mission to Vietnam and Malaysia with the Training Gateway to explore potential new markets. Although prior to the mission Jay did already have experience working in Asia, he had not worked in Vietnam.

The Trade Mission to Vietnam and Malaysia lasted 5 days with delegates from the UK meeting large number of representatives from public and private sector organisations in those countries. 

The advantages of going on a trade mission Jay argues, is that it saves lots of time trying to identify which companies and organisations to target. The Training Gateway via the Department of International Trade of the local chambers do all that work for the delegates based on their profiles. An even greater advantage is that by going in a larger group you are more likely to get the opportunity to participate in mini exhibitions and masterclasses, something that you couldn’t do on your own.

Other top tips include sending out emails to everyone he met. ‘If I get 10% replies, and then 10% follow-ups,’ he says ‘it means that there is potential’.

As a result of attending this Trade Mission, Jay has won new business contracts in this region and has forged new relationships and networks that he hopes to build on over the coming years.