“We’ve got your business launch in the UK covered!”

With the Belgian-Luxembourg Chambers of Commerce abroad, the chambers in Belgium have a strong foreign network that can help their members in their international activities. Time has come to put this network in the spotlight. We kick off with an interview with Michel Vanhoonacker, chairman of the Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain, Chamber that has been working overtime during Brexit.

How would you describe your Chamber in a few key words?

Michel Vanhoonacker: The Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain is a trusted one-stop shop for Belgian and Luxembourg companies wishing to do business in the UK. We offer practical business services, access to a reliable professional network, over 40 events a year and our clubhouse facilities in the heart of London.

How does the Chamber specifically help Belgian companies that are active in the UK, or want to become active there?

MV: Everything starts with a good conversation because there is no ‘one fits all’ solution. Based on this, we will make a proposal that will allow the company to start as soon as possible with a minimum of costs. Nowadays, due to COVID, we do most of our work via Teams of Zoom, but we also like to visit the company as this gives us a better insight. The solutions consist of practical services such as setting up a company, payroll administration, VAT registration and much more. We also have co-working space facilities in London and recently also an incubator agreement with Awex for the Walloon companies which allows them to get subsidisies when setting up shop in the UK. FIT also gives grants for setting up a prospection office outside the EU, including the UK.

Can you give an example of a company that has recently been helped by you?

MV: Last week we established a UK LTD for a SAAS company from Ghent. We also helped them draw up an employment contract for their first employee, registered them as a UK employer, set up the payroll administration, applied for their VAT number, provided them with a postal address, arranged their insurances and concluded a co-working agreement with them. So in less than two weeks, the company is fully up and running in London. Later on, we will also be launching a stock option scheme for their UK employees to enable them to benefit from the company’s growth at the most favourable rate. As you can see, we are covering the complete UK launch and continue to support the company afterwards.

Some companies have immediately grasped the opportunity to offer their services they used to offer on an EU level, now specifically tailored for the UK. This way they broaden their customer base, increase their turnover and stay ahead of their competitors.

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Of course, we cannot ignore Brexit. Nine months on, what is the verdict for our Belgian exporters?

MV: It’s definitely not a gift, for anyone, not for the companies in Belgium, not for the companies in the UK. The companies that lose out the most are those that were not prepared and the small online companies that have to go through the same paperwork for one box that they send as companies that send a container. As always, there are solutions but they cost time and money and someone has to pay for them. Also, sending people here to work is no longer as obvious as it used to be. EU citizens are now treated in the same way as the rest of the world. Here too, we offer tailor-made solutions.

Let’s look beyond the Brexit for a moment. What opportunities do you see for Belgian companies on the British market?

MV: Some companies have immediately grasped the opportunity to offer their services they used to offer on an EU level, now specifically tailored for the UK. This way they broaden their customer base, increase their turnover and stay ahead of their competitors. Others persevere despite the new red tape associated with imports, while competitors drop out or cannot offer the same service. What also helps is that once a Belgian company knows how to export to a non-EU country, in this case the UK, they are less afraid to consider other third countries. Specifically for the UK, there are still many opportunities in all sectors. It remains a very large economic power on a European level and we see that, despite Brexit, companies keep coming here to get a piece of the pie.

How can Belgian companies best contact you?

MV: Companies can call, email, Zoom or link to us via LinkedIn at any time. The intention is to be back in Belgium at least every two months to visit companies where needed. Of course, they are also welcome to visit our offices in London or Northern England. Our door is always open for companies that want to invest or export here, employ people, are active in construction, come to build installations. You name it, we do it.

Michel Vanhoonacker

Michel Vanhoonacker has his roots in Bruges. After his studies TEW in Namur and KU Leuven he left for the UK to specialise in Marketing at the Bristol Business School.   Professionally, he is still active in import and export from and to the UK. In 2005, Michel set BLCC in Great Britain back on track with a thorough reorganisation based on 3 pillars: practical services, networking and a London Club House. He is also director of a number of British and Belgian companies including Eximium Talent which specialises in supporting young SAAS companies.

As Honorary Consul for Belgium in Kingston-Upon-Hull, he helps Belgians who live and work in North-East England or who are stranded there. As Chairman of the oldest foreign charity in Britain, the Royal Belgian Benevolent Society, he and the Trustees ensure that exceptional young Belgian students can realise their ambition to continue their studies in the UK. In 2015 he became Freeman of the City of London for his involvement in the realisation of the Flanders Memorial Garden next to Buckingham Palace. Michel divides his time between Yorkshire, London, Belgium and Luxembourg.

The Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain is one of the 33 Belgo-Luxembourg Chambers of Commerce (BLCCA) accredited by the Federation of Belgian Chambers of Commerce. They help promote bilateral trade between Belgium, Luxembourg and the country in which they are established. The Chambers are made up of entrepreneurs who know what it is like to run a business abroad. They provide a sounding board and support and help entrepreneurs with practical matters to explore new markets abroad.

Discover the other Chambers abroad!

Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Great-Britain

https://www.blcc.co.uk | info@blcc.co.uk | +44 (0)207 127 4292

8 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N 5BY

Westwood House, Annie Med Lane, South Cave, HU15 2HG, UK

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