International Trade

US2U Consulting Founder and Director, Rachel Blackburn, joined key leaders from African and Caribbean territories for the 9th African Leadership Magazine Summit at The Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London on 17 July 2024. The theme was Africa Unleashed: Navigating Disruptions, Enhancing Opportunities. Supported by Baroness Sandy Verma who is a member of the UK House of Lords, it was an action-packed event with some strong messages. Rachel, pictured with H.E. Hon Philip Davis, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, at the event, also attended the previous summit in New York last September.

Whilst each country or territory appears to have their own specific challenges - including feedback from HS Rinda Hasimbelow, Minister of Economy and Finance, Madagascar, saying that people do not see the country as suitable to do business with as they think there are only animals there and no people - there were some common threads. These included:

 • Africa is no longer a sleeping giant

• Too many decisions about what is best for Africa are made outside of Africa

• Africa needs trade and strong partnerships with businesses across the world, rather than aid to reach its full potential

• Africa needs strong, effective leadership with good governance to remove corruption across the continent

Interestingly, one of the key messages from the agricultural sector is that they want to develop so that Africa can feed the world. Exactly thirty nine years from the Live Aid initiatives across the world founded by Bob Geldolf and Midge Ure in 1985 when the message was that the rest of the world had to feed Africa, this seems like progress indeed.

Please get in touch if you would like to develop trade relationships with the African/Caribbean nations, via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

US2U Consulting Founder & CEO, Rachel Blackburn, recently returned from a dynamic week in New York City in September, strengthening transatlantic relationships and exploring new opportunities for collaboration.

The trip was designed to combine high-level networking and thought leadership with US2U Consulting’s commitment to helping individuals and organisations achieve positive, lasting change. In addition to meeting with clients and existing connections, highlights included attending an AI Startup Networking Rooftop Event, where Rachel connected with entrepreneurs and innovators at the forefront of artificial intelligence.

Rachel also joined industry leaders and community partners at a Networking Reception hosted by New York City Football Club at the future site of their impressive new stadium at Etihad Park. This event provided a valuable platform for discussing sport, business, and community impact in one of the world’s most iconic cities.

The week concluded at the United Nations Headquarters with the GloCha Conference and Exhibit: Local Action for Global Challenges, held on Thursday 18th September 2025. This inspiring event focused on driving sustainable solutions through international cooperation, aligning closely with US2U Consulting’s ethos of innovation and social responsibility.

Rachel’s visit reflects our continued investment in building global connections to support our clients in achieving their goals, whether in the UK, US, or beyond.

👉 You can download our US2U Consulting U.S. Service Sheet to explore how our tailored services could support your career or organisation. To arrange an exploratory conversation, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - we would love to discuss how we can make a positive difference for you.

Below are some of the photo highlights from Rachel's latest visit:

As management consultants we are passionate about working with clients to improve efficiency and effectiveness whilst developing a respectful culture where all can thrive.

Therefore it was a great opportunity for two of our team to visit key places in Japan recently including Tokyo, Yokohama, Kobe, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Hakodate to experience some Japanese efficiency and culture. It was fascinating to experience the bullet train from Kobe to Kyoto - but surprisingly our train appeared to be a few minutes late!

Always keen to promote any British trade opportunities, Rachel Blackburn, pictured in Osaka, proudly wore her Export Champion badge and developed a few interesting contacts to be followed up.

Please get in touch to learn more about how we can support your plans to improve efficiency in your business and/or develop international trade plans by contacting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

US2U Consulting has been proud to have been awarded Export Champion status by the Department for International Trade back in 2020. We often use our international trading experience to support our clients' overseas business strategies.

As part of International Trade Week, 31 October - 4 November 2022, we were pleased to have a presence at an Export Champion networking event on 31 October at Lancaster House, London, hosted by Andrew Mitchell, Director General, Exports & UK Trade, at the Department for International Trade.

The event was organised for the start of the Department for International Trade's (DIT) International Trade Week to celebrate the contributions of the 2022-23 Export Champion cohort. Export Champions inspire and encourage other businesses to export. This event was an opportunity to thank Export Champions from across the UK for their services and it was an excellent platform to network with other Export Champions across the country.

Our client, Alan Hardingham, Chief Financial Officer of ETA Green Power said, "It was really interesting to meet so many different people who have a track record of exporting and discuss the challenges we are managing."

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out how we can assist your organisation with your international strategy.

US2U Consulting Founder and CEO, Rachel Blackburn, attended the International Trade Week 2024 launch event in London, sponsored by Santander. It was an opportunity to meet Minister Gareth Thomas MP, Minister for Services, Small Business and Exports and to hear him speak about the drive for business growth via the new UK industrial strategy "Invest 2035".

Rachel, pictured with Minister Thomas, said "As an Export Champion it is good to hear that the new government says it wants to support the export of services to boost SME exports and tear down any barriers to growth".

To discuss your business growth plans for 2025, please contact us This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

As a member of the St George's Society of New York, Rachel Blackburn, US2U Consulting Founder and CEO, was pleased to attend the celebration of the arrival of the York Ledger with a centennial celebration at Saint Thomas Church in New York. It celebrates the 100th anniversary of New York City presenting the city of York, England, with a Bronze plaque commemorating the bond between the two cities. The York ledger left York for its transatlantic journey on 6 February 2024. (Learn more about the York ledger stone here.)

The ceremony included greetings from The Right Honours The Lord Mayor of York, The Reverend Councilor Chris Cullwick and a response from the Mayor of New York, His Honor Eric L Adams.

The stone was unveiled by the British Consul General, Mrs Hannah Young and there was a message including warmest wishes from King Charles III.

Rachel said, "As an Export Champion it was fantastic to be part of this experience where the focus was about continuing to develop strong relationships for trade across the two countries."

Thank you to BritishAmerican Business for supporting our week-long business to New York last week, 17-22 March 2024. It was great to meet so many people and discuss how our Executive Coaching services can help them and their businesses achieve their ambitious growth plans.

Please see details of Executive Coaching Services for more information, along with our 2 minute overview video here.

Now to plan the next visit!

Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to learn how we can make a positive difference to your organisation.

The global data center industry is undergoing rapid transformation and growth, driven by technological advancements and shifting market demands, so it was great that US2U Consulting CEO, Rachel Blackburn, could attend the DCD London conference to learn more so we can support clients across the supply chain.

Rachel attended the DCD in New York back in March 2024, so it was interesting to understand more of the European perspective, although most of the priorities and challenges appear to be global.

The key trends shaping the industry include: trying to make the data centers more environmentally friendly rather than being seen as huge radiators wasting energy; working more closely with communities to breakdown resistance of the construction of new data centers; building hyperscale data centers that can offer massive storage and computing power to handle the exponential growth of data from cloud computing; and AI and big data applications. Like so many sectors, the data center industry is concerned about skills shortages, supply chain shortages and diversity & inclusion.

Rachel said, "I met up with some industry contacts from the New York event and also connected with new people to discuss challenges and opportunities."

Rachel is pictured next to some vintage London buses that were used to take delegates to the Emirates Stadium for the drinks party which continued the networking at the home of Arsenal Football Club.

If you are part of the data center supply chain anywhere in the world, please get in touch with This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We are pleased to announce that for the fourth consecutive year Rachel Blackburn, Founder and CEO of US2U Consulting, is the named person within our business to be an Export Champion. Rachel said "I am proud to be a Department for Business and Trade Export Champion since 2020."

Export Champions are a community of selected volunteers who have been appointed based on their experience and success in exporting. They encourage and inspire more UK businesses to trade internationally, largely via their own social media channels and by speaking at events. By sharing their own story and experiences, Export Champions help other companies realise there is a global demand for their products or services and if necessary help them navigate the challenges ahead and signpost to DBT support services.

It also adds to credibility when meeting potential new clients in the UK and overseas. US2U Consulting has exported its services to over ten countries around the world as it works with clients to create world class solutions for world class businesses.

Pictured is Rachel Blackburn bumping into another Export Champion, Gareth Lewis, Co-CEO of Delio based in Wales, at a recent St George's Society event in New York.

If you wish to discuss your exporting strategy with us, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We are excited that today, 1st April 2024, we celebrate the 18th Anniversary of US2U Consulting. Wow - think how much has changed since we started the company on 1st April 2006!

Even our strapline has changed from 'Achieving Success Together' to 'Guaranteed To Make A Positive Difference'. One thing that hasn't changed is our set of values: tailor-made solutions, inspirational, integrity, responsive customer service, strong relationships, encouraging diversity,and understanding client needs. These remain at the heart of our business today and influence everything that we do. Thank you to our clients, suppliers, current and former team members who have all been a significant part of this journey.

We estimate that we have worked with businesses to increase their value in excess of £250 million during these last 18 years and remain committed and passionate about delivering excellence in each of our projects.

Whether you are in the UK or overseas, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to discuss how US2U Consulting can help grow the value of your business.

US2U Consulting Founder & Director Rachel Blackburn visited New York City in January 2024, in the latest visit to expand our Management Consultancy, Executive Coaching & People Development services into the United States.

Rachel filmed a video diary during her trip, detailing a few of her various visits during the trade mission. Have a listen below to what she got up to in NYC!

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to learn how US2U Consulting can make a positive difference to your organisation - no matter what challenges you are facing.

Following US2U Consulting's trade mission to India in 2023 and efforts to develop relationships with key partners for the India business market, US2U Founder and Director Rachel Blackburn recorded a discussion with She Inspires Foundation CIC. The discussion focused on Rachel's experiences of attending a trade mission to India, and devising US2U Consulting's international strategy for this market as a UK Export Champion.

In association and support from DBT (Department for Business and Trade) and Manchester India Partnership and other associates, SheInspires Group is hoping to change the landscape for women in business, one market and industry at a time.

Watch the video below and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to learn how US2U Consulting can make a positive difference to your organisation.

US2U Consulting Founder and CEO Rachel Blackburn was pleased to attend the Australian Consulate General's annual diplomatic networking event in Times Square, New York recently. It was an informal event to get to know colleagues and make new connections within the New York consular, public diplomacy and trade community.

"It was so interesting to meet consular and trade people from around the world in such an iconic setting" said Rachel.