The UK government encourages businesses operating in emerging markets to prepare for bribery and corruption risks, as well as potential human rights abuses. The Department for International Development has launched the Business Integrity Hub to help businesses do this. MLM Group talks about the benefits of operating a business with integrity in new markets.
COMPANY OVERVIEW
In 2010, MLM Group was a UK-based, mid-sized engineering consultancy with big ambitions, looking to Brazil to develop their expertise, increase revenues, and provide diverse projects for their employees.
Eight years later, in partnership with Brazilian management consultancy NBS Consulting Group, MLM has pioneered UK buildings sustainability certifications in Brazil. MLM Brasil’s projects include the SEBRAE Sustainability Centre, the first building in Latin America to hold the Building Research Establishment’s BREEAM Excellent rating
for ‘Buildings in Use’. The project won the 2018 BREEAM Award for the Americas, being described by the judges as “a beacon of sustainability in the region.”
DRIVERS OF BUSINESS INTEGRITY
Chris Neeves, Managing Director of MLM Group Building Services Division and MLM Brasil’s Director of Technical Operations, explains that business integrity was key to navigating a market known for complex regulation, protectionism, and corruption:
Without the right partner it’s highly likely we would have made costly mistakes and inadvertently exposed ourselves to corruption. Ultimately, if we hadn’t identified a business partner sharing our values and approach, we wouldn’t have progressed with business in Brazil.
BENEFITS OF BUSINESS INTEGRITY
MLM’s experience confirmed that the UK’s reputation for integrity means that British companies are generally thought to be reliable. They were able to leverage this perception by demonstrating willingness to learn. Alessandro Santiago, Marketing and Commercial Director of NBS and MLM Brasil’s Commercial Director, explains:
From 2008, Brazil’s economic success attracted medium-sized foreign companies with little experience in international trade. They were perceived as being unwilling to learn about Brazilian customs and gave up at the first sign of difficulties. MLM demonstrated a willingness to learn about the complex tax and regulatory system and made long journeys to different Brazilian cities, where cultures vary significantly. This earned our trust.
APPROACH TO DOING BUSINESS WITH INTEGRITY
Whilst corruption does exist, our position in the market means that we’ve never been directly exposed, nor had
a difficult conversation with a client or our local partner. Our partnership-based relationships ensured open and honest communication, making it easy to say no to certain opportunities when ‘no’ was the correct response.
BUSINESS INTEGRITY, A KEY TO SUCCESS
MLM’s example shows that corruption concerns should not deter SMEs from export opportunities. Integrity-based partnerships hold the key to success. MLM’s achievement in Brazil has given them confidence to explore other markets, and bolstered their reputation as a bold and capable organisation, leading
to new opportunities and growth. MLM has doubled in size in under a decade and now employs over 450 people in 13 offices across the UK and Ireland.