Introducing COBCOE and the Make Europe Work Awards

03.09.18 08:10 AM By Sonia Kisbee

ByPath, the Business Sales Intelligence tool from Kompass was awarded 2017 Make Europe Work Award for Breakthrough Trade by COBCOE. Here’s a brief introduction to COBCOE, its award scheme and initiatives to promote international trade and business.

COBCOE is the Council of British Chambers of Commerce in Europe. Founded in 1973, it is the independent, not-for-profit membership organisation for British chambers and business associations that are located in and around Europe.

Today, COBCOE has members in 35 European countries, which have a combined membership of 12,000 businesses. COBCOE is also affiliated to chambers of commerce and other business organisations in the UK and around the world.

Make Europe Work!
This programme was launched by COBCOE in 2014 to give businesses the information, help and support that can be of real value to them when doing business in new markets. The programme draws on the experience and expertise of the COBCOE network to combine practical assistance with knowledge sharing.

Support includes ‘First Call’ where the member of a COBCOE chamber in one country can receive the first hour of advice from the member of a COBCOE chamber in a different country free of charge. The programme also includes a magazine, an extensive guide to etiquette in different European countries, plus a list of ‘Trusted Service Providers’, one of which is Kompass!

British Business Centres, run on behalf of the Department for International Trade, are located in the British chambers in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and Romania.

COBCOE Awards
To showcase and celebrate British-European business talent across the network, COBCOE recognises the achievements of both its members and businesses at the annual awards dinner. The two Make Europe Work Awards were introduced in 2015 to celebrate British or European businesses that have demonstrably made Europe work for them.

The award for Breakthrough Trade is given to companies that are on the cusp of entering the international trade arena.

COBCOE’s Brexit Ambition

COBCOE Connects
This new online service makes it easy for businesses to find trusted contacts in new markets that are matched to their individual needs. Developed in collaboration with Kompass, it has been designed specifically for chambers of commerce to operate, although any business can join – whether a chamber of commerce member or not!