Event Ideas
Businesses, NGOs and business organisations are being encouraged to get involved and organise their own event during World Trade Week UK.
If your business or organisation would like to draw attention to the importance of trade to jobs, growth and our shared global economic future; celebrate the success of UK businesses which are vibrant global traders and investors; examine how promoting open markets can help developing countries share in the benefits of trade or help your community learn more about the rich history of trade in the UK, then we encourage you to be part of the first World Trade Week UK.
Events organised around World Trade Week UK could include:
- Lecture, workshop or seminar
- Networking breakfast for local business community
- Host a talk or discussion group about world trade
- Host a discussion thread on your website so people can discuss world trade
- Organise an event with a local school or college to discuss benefits of world trade
Here are some examples of possible events to hold during World Trade Week UK
Business
Business etiquette breakfast
What is the best piece of advice you have been given when it comes to business etiquette? What do you wish you had known the first time you visited a new country? Use this networking breakfast to make contacts and share experiences of international trade. You could set up some challenges to guests to the best way to behave in certain countries.
Learning the language of trade
Host language workshops to teach your business community the key phrases from countries with which the UK does a huge amount of trade. Or countries that are specifically relevant for the businesses and industries in your region or sector.
Speed networking globally
Use World Trade Week UK to bring together local businesses to look for opportunities to work together to increase international trade in the local business community. Use video conferencing to network with colleagues/partners internationally.
International women
Bring together inspirational business women to speak on their experiences of international trade and how best to overcome gender issues internationally.
Trading masterclass
Invite successful local business people to provide a masterclass on breaking into international markets.
NGOs
Going green internationally
Hold seminars on how environmentally sustainable business will benefit business both at home and abroad whilst protecting the environment.
Aid or trade?
Host a debate on the advantages and disadvantages of trade vs. aid for the developing world.
Schools
Food Miles
In the UK we have access to a vast array of food from around the world - but do you really know how your favourite foods get to your table? Why not do a project to see how trade brings your favourite meal to your table? Which companies import food and where are your favourite foods grown around the world?
The Trade Debate
There are many views on trade, what its role in the economy is and should be, and what impact trade has on the developing world. Propose a debate with your debating club or with your class. Think about inviting local business people to help with your debate. Suggested debate topics:
- Is trade the best way to help the developing world out of poverty?
- Should we be encouraging aid or trade?
- In the current economic situation should we be protectionist or continue to promote free trade?
Find your trade twin
What is your town or city famous for? Do you have a trading twin town – a town or city abroad that your region has a high volume of trade with? Find your trade twin and get your school to make contact with a school there. What can you learn about life in your trade twin location?
Fruit trading game
Get primary school children to learn about the basics of trading in a fluctuating market using this simple game. Children have to cut out and colour in shapes of fruit and sell to bankers as prices fluctuate. More information about this game can be gathered from World Trade Week UK.
Run an assembly
Talk to your school about the success of the importance of world trade and examine how promoting open markets can help developing countries share in the benefits of trade. You could also discuss the rich history of trade in the UK in general and your region in particular.
Know your history
Produce a report for your class or the whole school about the history of trade. What would you be lost without? Who was the first person to introduce it to the UK? What would you miss most if you moved to another country? Look at products that are moved in mass to a new country as a large sections of a population emigrate.