Over 400 000 Uk citizens leave the UK every year in search of a new life. For the majority this move is career and lifestyle driven. If you are not talking to these people, then you are missing out on a great revenue making opportunity, but mud slingers beware, you will quickly ruin your reputation if you enter this half hearted.

There is a wealth of information out there, from the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) website to expat blogs, all are valuable sources and all should be looked at.

If you were moving abroad, what would you want to know? Make sure you know these answers.
Exporting recruitment services is not for the lazy. This requires effort and commitment. Don’t think for one minute that overseas trips are nice jollys, they are really, really hard work.

Working with different cultures and in different surroundings is exciting and challenging and can reap rewards. Just make sure you do it properly.

So, what should you do to ensure you enter the export market in the most professional manner possible?

1. Do your research!!! Don’t just rely on a few holiday snaps and your drunken memories from years ago. Visit the market, understand the culture and decide whether you feel comfortable sending your candidates there. I appreciate that this is not always feasible but it will set up apart from the rest, trust me.
2. Utilise the UKTI website and arrange to meet a Trade Advisor. This is essential as they will unlock a huge wealth of information. Go on the Passport to Export training course, look at the research UKTI can offer and make use of it. The contacts they can supply could be invaluable.
3. Make sure you understand the culture of the country. Not everyone likes a hard cold call with a quick close. Ensure you learn how business works before you jump in feet first.
4. Read, read and then read some more. The more knowledgeable you are about the market you are about to enter, especially about current events the better. Too many UK recruiters have tried to enter overseas markets and failed, therefore you may be tarnished with the same brush at first.
5. If the country’s first language is not English, then do your best to learn the local language. Even the odd word will work wonders.
6. Pretend you are moving to the country in question. How easy is it?

The more information you have, the more credible you will be in front of clients and candidates. Remember, they have probably seen / heard it all before……

So, what makes what I say credible? 4 Overseas trips, clients and partner companies across the globe, awards success and international recognition.

A scorcher today.

Met with existing clients who are very happy with the service we are providing, it seems that we can provide a better service from the UK than that of the local recruiters. Great for us!

Great new biz appointment with an up and coming company with huge aspirations. We have been tasked with filling 3 C Level roles, looking forward to this one.

Out for dinner with a client tonight, had lunch with one today, it is great when you are appreciated.

Oh, and we have just been shortlisted for an award for ‘International Business of the Year’ too!!

A good day all round. 5 concrete vacancies, good solid roles with the potential of loads loads more.
Saw the various Sheikh’s residences, yes, they know how to live.
Still very windy so still covered in sand. Saw two guys on horseback being chased by a dog. Very surreal.
We will be coming back to the UK with business, increased profile and reputation and the knowledge that our service levels will be greatly appreciated by Bahraini companies. Can’t be bad.
Still being inundated with mangos. Is this the staple diet? Mango curries, mango cakes, just waiting for the mango pizza.
Until tomorrow.

So, we are back to working for a living.

It is blowing a gale here. Sand clouds everywhere. Lovely.

We have had a profitable first day, 8 meetings, 8 vacancies from 3 clients and a very good discussion with our potential new Consultant who will operate from Bahrain.

We may also have a link to royalty here, fingers crossed!

Being woken up at half 1 by bin men outside wasn’t great but it isn’t the end of the world. Feta cheese and mint leaves on toast was a different was to start the day but it was actually very welcome….

One day done, great start to the week. another 8 meetings tomorrow, more of the same please!!!

Oh and well done Diversity. (Had to get that in).

It is boiling. Not UK boiling, melt the skin off your face boiling. Ah well, better than the sand storm we had last time!
Flight was good, Emirates are a great airline.
We are staying in Seef, not in a hotel but in an appartment. After all, if we are to advise UK citizens about what it is like to live in Bahrain, we may as well experience ‘normal living’ also.
Been to the Lulu Hypermarket, 101 varieties of mango! I had no idea that the mango gene pool was so diverse.
Food is really cheap. Did a weeks shop for 2 of us and it came to a tenner. You name it, you can get it. Bigger, better and cheaper than at home. Coupled with the service - wow!
Going to watch the FA Cup final at Champs Bar soon, then 5 days of work. Well, that is what we are here for.
32 appointments, only 4 with existing clients. Even the most pessimistic would expect a result here.
So, I will check in again tomorrow, probably still boiling but loving it!!!