The Birmingham Commonwealth Association is planning a trade mission to Jamaica to coincide with the Jamaica Expo in Kingston April 14-17 2016.  The mission has a strong life science/health care focus as well as promotion of the catering sector in Birmingham.  The visit is being put together by Martin Levermore MBE, Chief Executive of MDTi who chairs the BCA Trade and Business group alongside Wade Lyn CBE, Honorary Jamaican Consul who chairs the BCA Communities group.

One initiative Martin is hoping to replicate overseas, possibly in Jamaica, is a traineeship programme delivered through Medilink WM for 20 young people aged 16-18 in the West Midlands region in 2015.  The eight week programme combined placements in the NHS with a placement in a medically related industry SME as well as classroom study based on employment skills.   It was a powerful demonstration of collaborative working across industry, the NHS and Education in Birmingham. This ground breaking collaboration proved hugely successful with all twenty students completing the programme in its entirety.

For further information on the planned trade mission, please contact Mike Murray on 0121 303 4452 and for further information on the traineeship programme please see Medilink Traineeship Evaluation Report.

For further information on the trade/business opportunities in Jamaica and other Commonwealth countries, read Commonwealth business opportunities by UK Trade & Investment.