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On the 17 September 2024, Mark Jarman, Director at AgriTIERRA, hosted a panel discussion as part of the emerging Small and Medium Enterprise Professional Practice Group.

The webinar, titled 'UK to global – Doing geospatial business internationally' brought together UK and international market, business, and investment specialists in the field of geospatial:

  • Janet Geddes – Deputy Director - Global at Innovate UK
  • Andy Dearing - President at Spatial STL Advisors & Partner at Cultivation Capital
  • Steve Keyworth – Managing Director at Environment Systems
  • Andy Murdock – Director at APM Geo

Presentation overviews

Janet Geddes

During the webinar, Janet provided an insightful overview of Innovate UK, the UK's innovation agency, and it's place alongside the eight leading academic funding councils that form the UKRI, Janet emphasised.

She detailed how Innovate UK helps SMEs navigate the complexities of entering global markets, and drives UK businesses to realise their global potential.

This was highlighted through two key areas:

  1. Supporting innovative businesses to grow and scale through global engagement, alongside
  2. Access to innovation knowledge through partnerships.

Janet shared the success story of AgAnalyst, who supply farmers with data intergration solutions, a company that benefited from Innovate’s support.

Steve Keyworth

Steve provided his perspective through the lens of a UK geospatial SME and how he has grown his global activities and subsequently established an overseas business.

Through discussing his company Environment systems, Steve provided insights into both the rewarding and challenging aspects of the process, emphasising the importance of understanding local cultures, regulatory requirements, and market needs when setting up a business abroad, noting that relationships and culture are key to success.

Andy Dearing

In the webinar, Andy Dearing gave an engaging overview of STL Geospatial, elaborating on the role his organization plays within the broader geospatial ecosystem in St. Louis.

He highlighted how STL Geospatial fosters collaboration among industry leaders, researchers, and startups to drive innovation in the geospatial field.

Andy also shared St. Louis’ strategic approach to attracting and supporting startups, discussing various initiatives aimed at helping these companies grow.

He detailed the city’s efforts to build a vibrant geospatial hub, offering resources and a supportive environment that encourages entrepreneurship and technological advancement.

Andy Murdoch

Andy Murdoch shared valuable insights into his organization’s work, particularly its focus on supporting strategic global geospatial and Earth observation (EO) initiatives.

He spoke about the challenges and opportunities of building an international profile as a consultant, offering advice on how to navigate the competitive landscape of global geospatial consulting.

Andy discussed the importance of networking, establishing credibility, and staying abreast of technological advancements in the field.

His perspectives highlighted the growing demand for geospatial expertise in global markets and the significance of positioning oneself effectively to capitalize on these opportunities.

Questions

First question

"What advice do you have for a sole-trader working abroad, e.g. someone from the Middle East is interested in hiring me for some work. Who can I go to for advice working in that country? For instance, contracts, pricing, disputes, et cetera?"

Andy Murdoch: "I guess the simplest is to find someone who has experience there. I am not sure there is a specific list but something that could be considered within the context of SMME PPG."

Janet: "Another option might be to enquire via the Dept for Business and Trade (DBT) team in the region - they might be more focused on export of products but worth a shot. Also there are various British Chambers of Commerce who might be able to help."

Second question

"I have been working as an international consultant on a long-term project, would you have any advice on how to effectively manage gaps between different projects/contracts?"

"I have tended not to work on single long term projects having had my fingers burnt when projects stop. Typically I work on multiple things at the same time. Sometimes it is challenging to manage it all but de-risks these gaps."