Department for Business and Trade

Since 2009, US2U Consulting has been supported in our International Export work by Leszek Wysocki, International Trade Advisor, Department for Business and Trade.

This support included inviting us to join the UK Trade and Investment Mission to Qatar, Oman and Abu Dhabi in December 2013. This was part of the company's Gateway to Global Growth programme and followed successful projects in Canada, North America, Belgium, France and Bahrain. Leszek attended the Trade Mission with US2U Consulting Founder Rachel Blackburn.

Subsequent to this, US2U Consulting has delivered successful international projects in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Ireland, The Netherlands, Switzerland, India and the US.

Leszek was also instrumental with our award of Export Champion status from 2020 onwards.

US2U Consulting has also introduced Leszek to some of our clients to support their exporting strategies. One of these is UK-based international recovery truck company Boniface Engineering, part of US-based Miller Industries.

After 22 years in the role, Leszek has decided to retire.

Rachel Blackburn, pictured with Mike Boniface (left) and Leszek (right), said "It has been great to work with Leszek for so long. He will definitely be missed for his knowledge, enthusiasm, commitment and contacts. We wish him all the best for the next chapter in his life."

Mike Boniface presented Leszek with a glass paperweight model truck and said, "We would like to thank Leszek for all the support that he has given Boniface Engineering over the years as we have continued with our European export activities. We have enjoyed great success."

We are thrilled to have been re-appointed as an Export Champion by the Department for Business & Trade for 2023/24. The Department for Business & Trade is the UK Government department for economic growth. It supports businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities around the country.

Our role as Export Champions is to inspire other businesses to grow through exporting, drawing on our experience of entering various international markets in the last 12 years.

As a UK-based business, US2U Consulting recognises that exporting is fundamental to getting our economy back on track. Our goal is to make a positive difference across various international markets by exporting our leadership development services.

In particular, our Executive Coaching, Transformational Change and Teambuilding Services have made a significant impact in businesses in various territories from Canada through to Ireland and Dubai. We also work with UK-based businesses on specific projects to support development of their scaling up and overseas business development strategies.

Andrew Mitchell CMG, Director General, Domestic and International Markets and Exports, Department for Business and Trade, said "Export Champions play an integral role in the Government's Export Strategy - a partnership with business to encourage trade with every market in the world and realise our ambition to reach £1 trillion in exports in goods and services by 2030."

Rachel Blackburn, Founder and Director of US2U Consulting (pictured) said "We are excited to be part of this inspiring initiative; we can all play our part whether directly, or as part of the supply chain, to make an impact on this ambitious target for 2030."

Feel free to drop Rachel a line if you'd like some advice! This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

As an Export Champion, Rachel Blackburn, Founder and Director of US2U Consulting was pleased to attend the launch event of International Trade Week 2023 in London on Monday 6 November. This included various workshops to enable businesses to "Boost Your Global Success", and also a keynote address by The Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch, Secretary of State for the Department for Business and Trade.

The evening reception celebrated the Export Champion initiative's 10th anniversary and was hosted by Lord Offord of Garvel, Minister for Exports, pictured with Rachel.

Rachel said "It was a high energy event with a broad range of UK businesses determined to play our part in achieving the UK target of  £1trillion in exports by 2030."

This event was also great timing for US2U Consulting, as we have recently secured our first Executive Coaching client in New York - a key part of our current exporting strategy.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to learn how US2U Consulting can assist your organisation's international strategy.

As part of early 2025 Antipodean travels, CEO of US2U Consulting, Rachel Blackburn, visited the British Consulate office in Auckland, New Zealand with Sharron Drew, Director Trade and Investment New Zealand - Trade.

As a proud Kiwi with an extensive international commercial and government work background, Sharron was pleased to discuss her advice for businesses planning to sell to the New Zealand market:

1. As with most business development, taking time to invest in building proper, genuine business relationships is important. It can take time to build up trust so that potential customers feel they can trust you, your good and services.

2. When building relationships, it is important emphasise the shared values that you have in common. Prospective exporters should reference their organisation’s values; why these are important; and find common ground with their potential new customer.

3. Generally speaking, people in New Zealand genuinely care about their environment - the beautiful countryside, preserving it and keeping it clean. Therefore it is helpful to emphasise environmentally-friendly values and deliverables when building relationships.

4. Rather than focusing on British expertise, it can be more helpful to focus on relevant global experience of supplying goods and services; use these key messages verbally and on marketing assets to explain the proposition and differentia in the market place.

5. Always emphasise the value that your capability can bring; often there are opportunities for British businesses to be more direct and clearer about the added value their business can bring to New Zealand.

6. Fintech, Agritech and renewable energy solutions are all priority areas for New Zealand.

7. It is often helpful to recruit a local partner to help with the tendering process for key projects. The local Trade and Investment Team can assist with finding suitable connections.

8. Being aware of New Zealand cultural and market differences from the UK (and even Australia) will be very well received. Visit the market and invest time in getting to know the unique dynamics.

9. Be aware of localisation within New Zealand; for instance, the needs in Christchurch on the South Island may be very different from those in Auckland on the North Island.

10. Generally speaking, people are very helpful and friendly and will take time out to have a coffee, listen to your proposition and try and help you with your business development ideas.

Rachel said, "As an Export Champion I have learnt so much about New Zealand in the last couple of weeks travelling through the Sounds and visiting destinations on both islands including Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier, Picton and Tauranga on Waitangi Day. Prior to the trip I didn't realise that documents, business cards, signs and announcements are made in Māori as well as English - this is a key consideration for businesses planning to export to the region."

Thank you to Kate Pinkerton, International Trade Advisor, Department for Business and Trade for Southern England, for arranging the meeting.

For businesses considering exporting their products or services for the first time, the UK government's Export Support Service, available at www.great.gov.uk, is a great starting place. Finding a local international trade advisor can also be an effective way to begin your exporting journey.

Please contact Rachel to discuss your international busines development strategies in more detail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

As an Export Champion, Rachel Blackburn met with Ceri Morgan, Director - Investment, Energy and Infrastructure at the Department for Business & Trade in the British Consulate office in Sydney, Australia this week. This meeting was arranged by Kate Pinkerton, International Trade Advisor, DBT for Southern England.

The aim was to discuss top tips for UK businesses planning to export products and/or services to Australia during 2025.

Ceri, pictured with Rachel, offered the following advice:

1. Australia is generally pleased to learn how to adapt and adopt technologies from overseas if they will strengthen their services, capabilities and infrastructure.

2. As with many other territories, priority areas for collaboration appear to be around energy transition, fintech and lawtech.

3. When developing relationships and understanding of the market opportunities, it is best to take a state-by-state approach. For example, the needs in Queensland could be different from those in Western Australia. Also, it is best to travel to various states to meet with key people rather than assume everyone will meet in Sydney.

4. Remember to take a collaborative approach rather than assume that you will have something obviously brilliant that Australian buyers will automatically wish to buy.

5. Be mindful of potential political changes as Australia has a federal election coming up over the next few months.

6. When referencing the Department for Business and Trade, it tends to be known as the UK Government in Australia to develop a clear brand and avoid confusion.

Rachel said, "It's great to be back in Sydney to discuss with Ceri and other business people how warmly new business ideas are welcomed in Australia so long as the right approach is taken."

Ceri also highlighted the UK government's Export Support Service, available at www.great.gov.uk, as a great starting place for companies considering exporting for the first time, or expanding into new markets. Finding a local international trade advisor can also be an effective way to begin your exporting journey.

Please contact Rachel to discuss your international business development strategies in more detail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Kerwin and Rachel Blackburn were pleased to meet Toby Usnik (pictured, left, with Rachel) - Head of Communications at the British Consulate General in New York recently to discuss potential opportunities for our services in the US. Our meeting took place in the iconic location of Grand Central Terminal, New York (pictured below).

Whilst Toby currently works for the British Consulate General in New York, he has a commercial background and was able to share positive insights into the Executive Coaching market. We are planning our US strategy so please get in touch if you have contacts who would benefit from our services in that part of the world.

Linked to this story is that the British Department for Business and Trade have asked US2U Consulting to be an Export Champion for the fourth consecutive year. Part of this role is to advise other businesses on their international strategies.

Our first year of being awarded Export Champion status was 2020 - read about this here.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out how we can assist with you export strategies.