Swansea University supports Malaysian SMEs entering UK market

Daniel Bevan - Editor

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Swansea University is supporting Malaysian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to enter the UK market through a new executive education initiative developed in partnership with Malaysian government agencies.

The Soft Landings programme, created in collaboration with SME Corporation Malaysia and Pernas, is designed to help established Malaysian brands internationalise into the UK.

To date, the programme has supported 29 SMEs with their expansion plans.

Soft Landings is a one-week intensive executive education programme that provides participants with practical and theoretical guidance on setting up and operating a business in the UK.

As part of the initiative, a team of five academics from Swansea University’s School of Management travel to Malaysia each summer to deliver consultancy support to businesses that have previously taken part in the programme.

The School of Management has also supported Pernas with a trade mission to Germany, where Swansea University academics gathered and reported key market insights across major German industries.

The programme has received recognition from both UK and Malaysian governments.

The Swansea University team has met representatives from the Malaysian High Commissioner’s Office in London and the British High Commissioner’s Office in Kuala Lumpur.

Soft Landings forms part of a wider, ongoing collaboration between Swansea University and the Malaysian Government.

In December, the University and SME Corporation Malaysia signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening ties and developing further joint initiatives.

Soft Landings Programme Lead Dr Dafydd Cotterell said: “The Soft Landings Programme represents an innovative and industry-focused addition to our School’s executive education portfolio.

“The businesses we have supported so far include the premium Asian steakhouse chain MeetBros, which recently opened two venues in London.

“I now look forward to welcoming many more businesses onto the programme and expanding the work we do with SME Corp.”

Hazina Mohamad, Chief Strategy Officer at Pernas, said: “We are proud to partner with the School of Management which serves as our international training provider.

“The outcomes are already promising and tangible. Most significantly, 20 per cent of our participating companies have successfully penetrated the international market.”