How Very Displays unlocked its European growth potential — with the right support at the right time. In an exclusive interview, Simon Boswell, Managing and Finance Director at Very Displays, shares how his company overcame challenges and successfully expanded into France — thanks to local expertise, strategic connections, and a supportive ecosystem.
About Very Displays
Presentation of the company
Founded in 2017 by Chris and Nigel Cox, Very Displays specialises in trade-only portable display solutions. Their products include banners, lightboxes, gazebos etc.
With two sites in Market Harborough (UK), the company now employs over 30 people. They have clients in the UK but also export in Europe and have a £7 million turnover.
What is the genesis of Very Display’s project in France?
France, a strategic market, close to their markets
Very Displays’ decision to expand was driven by two main factors:
- Client proximity: “Most of our French clients are based in Paris — being close to them just made sense.”
- Logistics : With products shipped from China, a base near the Port of Dunkirk and Paris provided a key advantage.
Why did Very Display choose Northern France for their project?
Simon Bowell – Managing and Finance Director at Very Displays – gave us 3 reasons why Northern France was the smart move for them:
#1 Strategic location
“Lille was the perfect choice — just one hour from Paris, one hour from London, and close to Belgium, where most of our clients are located.”
On top of this proximity to strategic cities, the region has smart transport infrastructures to deliver clients rapidly.
#2 Access to talent and skills
“We’ve met fantastic students from local universities — a great talent pool for recruitment.”
Indeed, Northern France has an important workforce in their business sector:
- 74K in the logistics sector
- 71K in commerce, trade and mass retailing
In addition, this workforce is skilled:
- 9% of the French student population is in Northern France (which represents 251K students)
- +10% of French engineers are trained in the Region
- +40 elite graduate schools in different fields are located in the region as well as 7 universities
#3 A dynamic environment
“It’s a fantastic city. People are very friendly, everyone seems to want to help you. The environment is very business-friendly and the infrastructures put into place are extremely convenient”
In addition to having an attractive ecosystem, Northern France offers cheaper operating costs.
For example, the annual rate for a 2nd hand office is around €146 /m² in Amiens and €256 /m² in Lille compared to €307 /m² in Berlin or €417 /m² in Paris la Défense.
🏢Compare real estate costs between cities in Northern France and other European cities
Employer costs are also less expensive. A customer advisor will cost you €26.441/year in Amiens or €32.614/year in Lille. Meanwhile, in Paris, it will cost you €38.752/ year or €42.717/ year in Dusseldorf.
💼 Compare payroll costs between cities in Northern France and other European cities
What were Very Display’s main challenges during this project?
“The main challenge for this project was the formation of the company. We needed to be registered in France to carry on with it. Brexit also implied a lot more paperwork with regards to depositing the share capitals and opening a bank account in France” – Simon Bowell
🔍 Discover our guide for British investors to understand the French business environment
In this guide you will find information such as the 5 steps to follow when expanding into France:
- Select a business structure
- Draft your legal notice
- Pick the right legal status and prepare your bylaws and charter
- Put the share capital in a bank account
- Fill in the company declaration & registration
How did the UK Business Centre Lille help Very Display concretely?
Support provided by our team of experts
Connecting Very Display with the right people
“The UK Business Centre Lille has been absolutely fantastic, connecting us with people that I never would have had the ability to connect with before (…) It helped us tremendously and gave us real peace of mind” – Simon Boswell
🔍 The services of the UKBC Lille are not limited to that, discover more about our services
The support Very Display benefited from
HR and recruitment: they got put in touch with recruitment agencies and got a selection of candidates tailored to their needs
Legal representation: they got put in touch with reliable experts to clarify employment laws as well as immigration
Banking: in order to open a bank account and be registered in France
Setting up in Northern France: Nord France Invest and Hello Lille created a tailored schedule to visit a selection of sites in the Lille Metropolis
Do you want to access the EU market more easily?
Discover how our Cross-Channel experts can support you
We create tailored support to give you concrete solution to access the EU market and fast-track your development.
#1Express your needs
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#3We put you in touch with the right contacts
5 Key takeaways from Very Display’s expansion journey
Key points to remember
#1 France was a strategic priority
With most clients based in France and Belgium, setting up closer to them became a competitive necessity.
#2 Northern France offers real advantages
From smart logistics to skilled talent and affordable business costs, the region combines everything a growing business needs.
#3 Legal and administrative steps can be complex post-Brexit
Forming a company, opening a bank account and dealing with share capital formalities all require local know-how.
#4 The UK Business Centre Lille made it simple
By connecting Very Displays with trusted experts, UKBC Lille helped secure the right partners — from HR to legal — at every step.
#5 Growth is faster when you land right
With the right support, Very Displays didn’t just enter the French market — they laid solid foundations for long-term European growth.
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