West architects, design practices and planners will be thrust into the international spotlight next week as part of a national campaign to promote exporting.
Members of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) will get the chance to showcase their talents in a Living Cities Challenge – an interactive ideas competition to help redefine city spaces. 
Supported by Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson – an architect and former RIBA preside – and Liverpool’s mayor Joe Anderson, participants in the challenge will present their ideas for development from the two cities to an international audience.
Bristol projects include Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone and the M32 Corridor. The presentations will be streamed via a live link between Bristol, Liverpool and Chicago.
There will also be a series of presentations from consulting engineers Arup on how to operate an international design practice, and Council of American States in Europe (CASE), on the support and services for UK practices seeking a US presence.
UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) will be on hand to demonstrate how architects can access high-value opportunities in the US and beyond and show businesses what support is available when they are ready to trade overseas.
UKTI has joined up with RIBA and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to stage the showcase.
UKTI international trade adviser Mike Rundle said: “The Living Cities Challenge is a rare opportunity for architects to step into the international spotlight, collaborate with US firms and present their ideas to the world alongside leading thinkers their field. Size and reputation count for nothing in the challenge – what matters is the ability to impress with imagination, skill and creativity.”
The challenge forms part of a Doing business in America event next Thursday at the Arnolfini, Bristol.
Organised in conjunction with Business West and CASE, the event will provide the region’s businesses with the opportunity to learn how to succeed in the UK’s biggest single export market.
The event will feature a presentation from Spencer Mahoney, HM Consul & Regional Director East Coast US, which will be streamed live from the International Festival of Business (IFB 2014) in Liverpool.
Delegates will be able to find out how to establish a local presence and learn about the legal and marketing issues that need to be considered when doing business or looking to invest in the US. One-to-one meetings with CASE representatives in the afternoon will also allow delegates to explore key issues that directly apply to their specific needs.
UKTI regional director Russell Jones said: “The US remains one of the South West’s biggest export markets, offering a wealth of opportunities for the region’s businesses. The market is expanding steadily, consumer and business confidence is creeping up and the appetite for high-quality British products and services is still popular.
“This event provides a unique opportunity to arrange one-to-one meetings with trade specialists who can provide direct routes to market and information on commercial opportunities to help you enter the North American market with confidence. With consumer and business confidence steadily increasing in the US, now is the perfect time to explore these export opportunities and UKTI can help open doors and avoid costly mistakes.”
“Building solid trade links with the international community is vital for the future success of the UK economy. The events taking place in June and July at IFB 2014 will aim to showcase the UK as a nation open for global business, attract foreign investment and create major export opportunities with businesses around the world.”
For further information and to book a place on the ‘How to successfully do business and invest in the US’ event, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-to-successfully-do-business-and-invest-in-the-us-registration-11777411555 or call UKTI on 0845 60 60 969.
For further information on the Living Cities Challenge, contact UKTI international trade adviser Mike Rundle at mike.rundle@uktisouthwest.org.
