ROUTE INTO EUROPEAN MARKET ON OFFER

A new service that offers firms in the city and county a route into the European market is being launched in the new year.

The European Information Centre (EIC) will offer services to Leicestershire businesses such as instant access to European companies looking for a variety of partnership opportunities.

The service has a network of more than 250 centres across Europe and will be delivered for the East Midlands by Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber's International Trade and Information team.

David Hood, who leads the team, said: "We're very pleased to have won this contract as it complements our existing international trade and information service and strengthens our whole offer.

"We can say we are playing a central, leading role in helping companies in the East Midlands to get the most out of Europe."

The new service, which goes live on January 1, will be officially launched by the Euro-pean Union in early February.

Other features of the EIC will include a tenders alerting service, opportunities for SMEs to feedback views on European legislation and introducing businesses to potential partners.

For more details of EIC, call 0845 601 1038.