International Trade team news – Spring 2026

Spring has finally arrived and the International Trade Services Team continue to keep trade moving with ATA Carnets and export documents. Our Carnet team has seen an increase in applications so far this year, although trade to the Middle East has slowed due to the current situation affecting shipping routes.

On the Carnet team we stayed true to our international theme by recruiting Sophie Varcin, who comes from the same village in France as another member of our team, Deborah Bertino. Sadly we had to wave adieu to, Hugo Fernandez, who worked with the Carnet team over the last 12 months. Hugo moved back to France to work with the Paris Chamber of Commerce and we wish him well in his new role. Perchance, we need to visit him?!

Welcome to Sophie Varcin

Sophie joined the team at the beginning of April, and is busy learning about the intricacies of  ATA Carnets. She first joined Business West in 2005 and has worked in different departments, including the Department for International Trade as a European Information Adviser and later with Innovate UK Business Growth. In her spare time, she likes gardening, cooking (& eating!), walks (with a pub!) and visiting heritage places.

Well done Catherine Stephens

Catherine Stephens, Head of International Trade Services, recently had the great honour of being made a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade. To achieve Fellow membership is a truly significant milestone and a testament to her outstanding contributions to international trade. Well done Catherine!

We welcomed Sidcot School

Megan Childs, Assistant Manager International Trade Services and Faith Batten, Carnet Claims Lead, hosted a group of Year 13 BTEC International Business students from Sidcot School at our offices in Leigh Court.

They delivered an engaging whistle-stop tour of the real world of international trade, covering exports, documentation, Letters of Credit, Certificates of Origin, preferential origin, Free Trade Agreements and ATA Carnets.  The students then put their knowledge to the test in an interactive “Global Trade Challenge”, applying classroom theory to real-life trading scenarios. Who knows, we may see some of them applying to join the team in a few years’ time.