Going International
Nightingale HQ’s Richard Jackson attended a round table discussion regarding international trade with Wales Business Insider. Twelve members of the Welsh community were brought together to discuss trade opportunities, building teams and the role that Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards play in trading abroad.
Manufacturers such as Atlantic Service and Flamgard were in attendance, alongside local representatives from the food and drink Hensol Castle Distillery and biotech Biocatalysts. Representatives from the Welsh Government were in attendance and the discussions at this event gave a deep insight into the range, and similarities, of issues and experienced faced by Welsh companies in the international market.
“At Nightingale HQ, we have always prided ourselves on working internationally and continue to do so, working with organisations such as the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) and Irish manufacturers such as Midland Steel. We are members of EIT and have customers in England, Ireland and Germany. ” - Richard Jackson Cloud Software Engineer Intern at Nightingale HQ.
The discussions will be summarised into an article in Wales Business Insider. Thank you to Douglas Friedli, Editor of Wales Business Insider for the opportunity bring our viewpoint to the table.
Further Reading
FAQs
Why does international trade matter for Welsh manufacturers?
The round table discussion brought together a cross-section of Welsh businesses — manufacturers, food and drink producers, biotech companies, and technology firms — to compare notes on the challenges and opportunities of trading internationally. The range of sectors represented reflects the breadth of Welsh export activity, and the similarity of challenges across very different industries.
For Nightingale HQ, the international trade conversation is directly relevant to its business model. GoSmarter is built for manufacturers globally — its products are in use in the UK, Ireland, Norway, and Germany. The EIT Manufacturing partnerships and the Greener Steel project reflect a deliberate strategy of building international partnerships alongside domestic growth.
What about ESG and international competitiveness?
The inclusion of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards as a key discussion topic reflects how significantly the international trade landscape has changed in recent years. For Welsh manufacturers exporting to European customers, ESG requirements are increasingly part of procurement decisions — not just regulatory compliance. Understanding and meeting these requirements is a commercial necessity for businesses that want to compete in international markets.
GoSmarter’s work on sustainability reporting for manufacturers — carbon tracking, emissions calculation, material efficiency — directly supports the ESG data requirements that international customers increasingly demand. The connection between digital tools, sustainability reporting, and international trade competitiveness is one that Welsh manufacturers are actively navigating.