April 8, 2018 
As a trustworthy growth partner, the Polyglot Group had the honour of attending and speaking at the Inauguration of the Maritime Connection Days’ program.
Having helped hundreds of companies expand Down Under, we were thrilled to participate in such a groundbreaking program. Through sharing our knowledge here, we encouraged more businesses to grow across borders and set up business in Australia.
What is the Maritime Connection Days program?
Maritime Connection Days in Australia is the first French Acceleration Program dedicated to The Australian Maritime Market.
This initiative is organised by Business France in partnership with The Naval Group. The program offers 8 innovative French companies the opportunity to learn how to best set up their presence in the Australian Maritime market and enhance their chances to find future partners.
Over the course of 10 months, the program will offer personalised training, individual coaching and boot camp sessions in France to prepare the 8 chosen finalists to tackle the Australian market.
The program’s official start will be celebrated in the form of a boot camp in Paris at the end of June. The shortlisted companies will then be announced.
This accelerator program is yet further proof that the relationship between France and Australia is going from strength to strength.
The Hosts
Business France is the French Agency for international business development and lies at the heart of France’s export support framework.
With 80 Trade Commissions in 60 countries, Business France offers a comprehensive range of products and services aimed at accompanying French-based companies in their international development.
The French Trade Commission – Business France in Australia, is dedicated to the promotion of French companies to the Australian and New Zealand markets. The commission is part of the French diplomatic mission in Australia, and places a special emphasis on helping SMEs come Down Under.
Our Founder & CEO, Corinne Bot, is a French Trade Advisor, and as such, regularly collaborates with Business France to promote and assist businesses and young entrepreneurs looking to take their business to a global level.
The Naval Group is one of the most experienced submarine designs and builders in the world, having built more than 100 submarines for nine navies. Their expertise extends to the design and construction a variety of naval ships including aircraft carriers, landing helicopter docks and frigates.
Some may recognise the name but be unaware of how significant they are in the Australian market. Having been selected by the Australian Government as their international partner for the design and build of 12 regionally superior submarines for the Royal Australian Navy 2 years ago, the Naval Group is a key global partner for Australia and further solidifies the collaboration between France and Australia.
How Did We Help?
As our leader and all-around Wonder Woman, our Founder & CEO, Corinne, was personally invited to speak at the inauguration. As a trusted authority in the space, Corinne shared her in-depth knowledge of the human capital side of business growth.
During her presentation, Corinne focused on 3 pieces of key advice for global expansion.
The first, (and often the most underestimated) is the importance of establishing the Human Resources side of the business. Corinne delved into Australian Visas and Immigration facts before finishing with the many setup options.
From the HR standpoint, Corinne’s aim was to showcase the many differences between France and Australia. Whether it be in terms of market price, minimum wages, the different types of contracts or the leave schemes, each country has its own laws and specificities. These are incredibly important and are to be taken into consideration when thinking of setting up a business in Australia.
One cannot assume that the rules are going to be the same in every country. This is often overlooked when businesses look towards international expansion. Yet, a strong HR strategy can make or break a global expansion and must be taken into account which is why choosing a trusted local partner to accompany you is paramount.
Depending on the business’s chosen setup – whether it be through EOR Services/Employment Outsourcing, registering an existing foreign entity as an Australian employer (WPN), registering a local Subsidiary (PTY LTD) or setting up a Branch – the visa procedures will vary. This last point is critical as it determines the potential team’s employability in Australia.
Keen to know more about setting up your business in Australia? Not sure what steps to take for a successful global expansion Down Under? Look no further, we have the guide for you.
All in all, we are very grateful to both Business France and the Naval Group for this opportunity and look forward to seeing what comes of the program. Global expansion is no easy feat and we are thrilled to be able to share our knowledge with up and coming businesses.
