Applied research for Experience UK and the Department for International Trade

Experience UK together with the Department for International Trade commissioned Emily Smith Associates to undertake a two-part investigative study into cultural and museum business practices in the Gulf and Eastern Europe. As well as gaining deeper insight into the local museum and heritage sector, shedding light on potential opportunities to support members’ business development activity was paramount. Emily Smith Associates took a methodical research approach which included interviews with DIT in-country teams, British Council officials and in-country sector professionals to build an understanding of the decision makers, business practice, industry and governance in the sector for each country. This was also supplemented by in-depth desk research to provide further insights that have been published in the sector by institutions such as the British Council, CBRE, Oxford Business Group, and World Bank.

Relationships were built across the monarchies, cultural and tourism agencies and development authorities as well as the museum and heritage attractions themselves to support future activities. Emily Smith Associates also produced toolkits tailored for doing business in each region of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, as well as Eastern Europe. In addition to the finished report Emily Smith Associates provided Experience UK and DIT with intelligence to support future business development activity at museum and heritage trade shows and trade missions.

‘Emily is a valued member of the Experience UK Executive Board and has led on many pieces of research for our members in recent years. The work Emily undertakes is of fantastic quality, it deep dives into industry verticals and specific markets, and provides our members with great detailed analysis together with high value contacts which enables them to potentially win new business.’

Ian Clappison, CEO at Experience UK