Powering up in the UK

Winning the 2010 UK Market Entry competition run by UK Trade & Investment gave Australian company Rutherford Global Power a flying start in setting up its European headquarters in the UK.

Set up in Australia in 1981, the Rutherford Group provides cable repair and hiring services, electrical equipment and turnkey electrical project solutions to the mining, tunnelling, resources, energy and infrastructure sectors.

Aiming to become the global market leader in temporary electrical systems, the company decided to open a base in the UK. It found out about the UK Market Entry (UKME) competition being run by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) in Australia. The winner would receive a business support package, including return airfares to London, access to business networks, free limited company registration, business services, and ongoing UKTI support. Rutherford entered the competition won.

Since setting up in February 2011, Rutherford Global Power (Europe) Ltd has since won a number of significant contracts to work on the London Crossrail project, the biggest construction project in Europe.

“UKTI and its regional partners made all the difference in us getting established in the UK,” says Steve Rush, General Manager, Europe / International for the Rutherford Group. “They opened the floodgates to information and support that cut down the time it took us to get up and running by around 75 per cent.”

Contacts

If you are interested in setting up your business in the UK please contact your nearest Investment Team.