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Transatlantic Consultants assists businesses expand in to international markets - October 20, 2009

SIFE (formerly ACE) Memorial and Memorial University’s Faculty of Business Administration through
its outreach arm The Gardiner Centre, are pleased to offer Transatlantic Consultants: a program dedicated to assisting local businesses expanding into international markets. We are currently looking for companies to participate in this winter’s program (January 2010). If your business is ready to explore or expand into the global market, we can help. Please read below for further information,
and if Transatlantic Consultants suits your company’s needs, don’t hesitate to contact one of our
leaders today.

What is Transatlantic Consultants?
Each year, senior-level undergraduate business students are chosen to study at Memorial University’s campus in Harlow, England, or at one of Memorial University’s exchange partner locations. Opportunities for participation for winter 2010 exist in England, France and Malaysia with potential openings in China, Denmark, Hong Kong and Mexico. Through Memorial University’s B6018 course, students will conduct research for businesses interested in expanding into the global market.

Prior to leaving, students meet with the organizations to learn about the business and its goals. The students and the companies then discuss work objectives and define a detailed scope of work. During their exchange, students conduct market research for the companies, based on the previously
determined scope. Students may research market opportunities, potential partners, competition,
trade barriers, or distribution mechanisms in the respective or neighbouring countries.

Throughout the academic semester, students keep constant communication with the organizations,
with regular updates and status reports. Students prepare a detailed consultant report with their
findings, and then present this information to the companies.

Who can participate?
Established businesses ready to explore or expand into international markets are eligible to participate. Companies must have clear and realistic goals and objectives.

What can participants expect?
Students can make a very positive contribution to companies participating in Transatlantic
Consultants. These students are approaching their final year of business and have completed courses focused in their chosen global region.
Participants can expect a professional business relationship and mutually beneficial results.

What do students expect?
To ensure that students reach their highest potential, businesses must:
• Create a realistic, well-defined scope
• Identify a contact person
• Commit to communicate regularly
• Provide/give access to any relevant data already collected

What have others said?
Virtual Marine Technology, a local business that improves the safety of life at sea by providing realistic, effective and safe training tools for
small craft operators, participated in
Transatlantic Consultants last year. Marketing co-ordinator Stephanie Lewis, had this to say about the program:
“SIFE Memorial is a great asset to any small business in Newfoundland and Labrador. We were kept up-to-date on progress and were able to obtain valuable market intelligence that will
be used in our plan to expand our business internationally. Transatlantic Consultants were
very professional and thorough in their research and report writing.”

Program Fee
Participants of Transatlantic Consultants will be charged a program fee of $500. This fee includes:
• Administration
• Long distance phone calls required for program purposes
• Video-conferencing between students and organizations (provided by the Faculty of Business Administration)
• Travel for at least one day trip to related locations for students to perform market research

Should a company require students to incur any additional costs (i.e. further travel), they would
be covered separately by the company.

Contact Information
For further information or to confirm interest, businesses may contact co-ordinator, Amy Pollard; program leader, Nancy Wadden; or
faculty advisor, Lynn Morrissey.