The Decipher project is a pilot project designed to help companies gain an improved understanding of the business culture of the target export markets. Of particular interest to the project are companies which operate in the agrifood, life science and manufacturing sectors, although companies from other sectors are welcome to join in the project. A knowledge of a customer’s language, even at a basic level, can show commitment to a business relationship and enable companies to reach a wider customer base. Experience has also shown that a knowledge of a customer’s culture helps both with understanding their behaviour and adapting marketing material.
The project is funded by the European Union’s Lifelong Learning Transfer of Innovation programme. It consists of a brief survey of business needs, the sharing & adaptation of existing resource, and a series of business culture workshops across several European regions, including the East of England, Yorkshire & Humber, Brittany, Aragon, South Ostrabothnia and Sicily. Companies will be offered the opportunity to take part in these half-day workshops focussed on varying aspects of the business culture of their main target export markets.
The project aims to bring together the expertise and resource of 7 organisations for the support of the regions’ business communities. Partners in the project either have a knowledge of the companies they support or are experienced language & culture trainers. The project is led by RLN YH, partnered in the East of England with RLN East, in France with ADIT (Agence de Développement Industriel du Trégor) and UCO (Université Catholique de Ouest-Bretagne), in Spain with the Universidad de Zaragoza, in Finland with the Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences, and in Sicily with Mainstreaming Agenda. The project runs from Oct 2009 to Sep 2011.
Companies wishing to participate in the project are welcome to contact their respective project manager (see the ‘Contact’ section).
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