Mills & Reeve hosted Chinese delegation for International Trade Week

Leading law firm Mills & Reeve hosted a delegation of Chinese buyers to strengthen links and create commercial opportunities for North West brands and retailers.

The Department for Business and Trade, GM Business Growth Hub and Mills & Reeve hosted an event on 7 November for North West companies operating in beauty, fashion, health and homeware to meet Chinese buyers who are actively sourcing brands and products for China and cross-border channels.

Taking part on the morning of 7 Nov 2025 at Mills & Reeve’s offices at Circle Square in Manchester, the session provided insights into the Chinese retail landscape through expert-led sessions. More than 30 delegates discovered innovative marketing tools and strategic approaches for successful market entry into China.

The latest official figures showed Greater Manchester exports around £403 million of goods annually, with around 800 businesses in Greater Manchester exporting to China.

Nicola Holmes, principal associate at Mills & Reeve, said: “According to official figures, there are tens of billions of pounds of untapped export potential for British companies in China across a wide range of sectors. We work with and meet so many Manchester brands that are already selling successfully globally or have the potential to accelerate their growth by entering new international markets.

“It’s brilliant to work with the Department for Business and Trade, and GM Business Growth Hub to showcase the best of the region’s businesses and to enable stronger connections between the region and China.”

Susana Córdoba, Head of International Trade Services at GM Business Growth Hub, added: “Mills & Reeve is a leading UK law firm but with international reach, so we are delighted to be able to work with the Manchester team to facilitate this initiative. The potential for Greater Manchester businesses is huge so we’re proud to be putting more of our homegrown brands on a global stage.”