Weak pound 'strengthens foreign placements' - 09 February 2009
The tumbling value of the pound has had an unexpected 
benefit for Notts firms looking for short-term skilled help, the Chamber of Commerce has claimed.
Derbyshire and Notts Chamber of Commerce's International Student Placement Office (ISPO) has had its busiest January since the service began, as foreign students find the UK a more attractive place to gain work experience.
Traditionally, sales and marketing departments have benefited most from overseas students who can help with foreign business.
But the Chamber said activity had diversified to include placements in engineering and education.
James Underwood of Micro-Mesh Engineering Limited, in Basford, said: "ISPO was able to find us the perfect student as we looked into expanding our operations into Poland.
"He already had contacts from our industry in the country and was, therefore, perfectly positioned to help us on our way.
"We have been able to achieve things in Poland that we could never have done on our own."
The Chamber said an ISPO placement can give businesses language and cultural skills that may be in short supply in the UK.
The Chamber's ISPO coordinator, Ben Littler, said: "We thought the start of the year would be a quiet time, however, we have placed more than twice as many students as we had expected in January, and February and March look set to follow this trend.
"Our students are funded by the EU, which means host organisations do not have to pay a salary, but the dip in the pound makes the UK a more practical destination for students."
Companies can post and manage their vacancy information on the new ISPO website – www.ispo.co.uk.
Source: Nottingham Evening Post
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