Case Study: Gabitel - Key Account Management with DIT

Gabitel is one of Spain’s leading engineering services companies, employing more than 200 people.

In 2020, the company made the decision to establish a base in the UK at Birchwood Park, Warrington and engaged with the Department for International Trade and Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership for support in setting up in a post-Brexit climate.

Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership helped Gabitel set up a UK-based HR department and guided them through the process of employing local people who fulfilled the company’s ‘wishlist’, as well as navigating the necessary procedures to employ from outside the UK.

Pablo Garcia, CTO at Gabitel, said: “We knew that recruiting staff post-Brexit would be an extremely complex procedure and we did not have the luxury of having one person on the ground to look after everything HR-related.

“But, that’s where the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership helped us – they were incredibly supportive in guiding us through the process and making sure we had every box ticked when it came to on-boarding new staff and setting up in the UK.

“We’re looking forward to working more closely with our account manager at the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership and the Department for International Trade, as we’re keen to upskill our team as much as possible. We’re also working towards being able to recruit further talent from across Cheshire and Warrington and, again, will be turning to the LEP for support on this.”

Warrington-based Gabitel was also recently awarded New UK Investor status by the British Embassy in Spain.

Andy Devaney, Business Innovation Director at Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We are always passionate about showcasing what our region has to offer in terms of talent and economic growth prospects, especially to international companies.

“Navigating HR process post-Brexit can be time-consuming and complex, particularly when coupled with setting up a UK base remotely, but our team and partners from DIT worked hard to ensure that Gabitel’s integration into the sub-region was seamless and efficient.

“We’re excited to see how the company helps shape the future growth of our region’s economy and are looking forward to working with them more in the future.”

The Key Account Management Programme is offered by DIT through the Northern Powerhouse for foreign-owned companies.