{"id":33683,"date":"2026-01-05T18:07:38","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T18:07:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spanishchamber.co.uk\/?p=33683"},"modified":"2026-01-05T18:07:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T18:07:38","slug":"building-bridges-across-borders-lessons-from-an-internship-in-foreign-trade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spanishchamber.co.uk\/es\/2026\/01\/05\/building-bridges-across-borders-lessons-from-an-internship-in-foreign-trade\/","title":{"rendered":"Building Bridges Across Borders: Lessons from an Internship in Foreign Trade"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In our latest blog, Foreign Trade Intern Ana\u00efs Kronengold reflects on her internship at the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the UK, where she gained hands-on experience supporting SMEs and exploring international trade.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>During my time at the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the UK as a Foreign Trade Intern, I participated in numerous projects, from coordinating <strong>trade agendas<\/strong> and <strong>trade missions<\/strong> to preparing presentations on <strong>sector trends in the UK market<\/strong>, organising <strong>institutional events<\/strong>, contributing to the VII Barometer, and supporting the resolution of <strong>bilateral trade<\/strong> <strong>enquiries<\/strong>. I also attended trade fairs across a variety of sectors, where I had the opportunity to discover remarkable companies and professionals. At one of these events, I even had the chance to meet local representatives from the city where I grew up: Alicante.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the variety of tasks, one of the aspects I have appreciated most about this institution is its commitment to the <strong>professional development of interns<\/strong>, ensuring that each experience is tailored to individual interests and strengths. In my case, given my inclination toward international trade, I had the opportunity to manage various enquiries received by the Foreign Trade Department relating to <strong>import and export procedures<\/strong>, which allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the commercial relationship between Spain and the UK.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><i>What drives my interest in international trade?<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I am of Belgian origin, raised in Alicante, and have lived in several cities and countries throughout my life. From an early age, I have been drawn to the international sphere, an environment in which I feel genuinely comfortable. Joining the Chamber presented an excellent opportunity to launch my<strong> professional career<\/strong> and gain experience in a dynamic, <strong>cross-border business environment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>I am also grateful to the <strong>Valencian Institute of Business Competitiveness (IVACE)<\/strong> and its \u201cIVACE Exterior Scholarship\u201d programme, which provided the support and resources necessary to make this experience possible.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><i>The day-to-day reality of foreign trade<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>International trade is characterised by its dynamism and constant need to adapt to an evolving environment. Each operation requires the coordination of multiple factors, which vary depending on the country, sector, and timing. In this context, day-to-day activity in foreign trade demonstrates that there are no universal solutions: each company must identify its own way of accessing international markets, tailoring its strategy to specific and ever-changing circumstances.<\/p>\n<p>Among the most common enquiries received by the Chamber in this area are those related to <strong>customs procedures<\/strong> and <strong>documentation requirements<\/strong>. Companies often seek guidance on the shipment of commercial samples or products intended for <strong>exhibitions<\/strong> and<strong> trade fairs<\/strong>, as well as on the procedures required for <strong>temporary imports<\/strong>. Questions regarding product certification, rules of origin, tariff classification, and the corresponding CPC codes are also frequent.<\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">These enquiries come from companies with\u00a0very diverse\u00a0profiles, both in terms of size and sector,\u00a0yet\u00a0they\u00a0all\u00a0share\u00a0a common goal:\u00a0<strong>operating\u00a0safely and efficiently in the UK market<\/strong>. Moreover, they all\u00a0rely on the Chamber for one key reason:\u00a0its\u00a0expertise\u00a0and guidance as a trusted source for navigating international\u00a0trade.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-33686 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/spanishchamber.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/54812976764_66a7995311_o-scaled-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><i>What practice teaches us: behind every commercial operation<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Handling and\u00a0analysing\u00a0enquiries related to import and export procedures has\u00a0given me\u00a0a deep understanding of the complexity of international trade. Behind an operation that may appear straightforward lies a demanding set of tasks that require documentary accuracy, regulatory\u00a0knowledge\u00a0and rigorous logistical planning\u00a0in order to\u00a0avoid border issues, sanctions, delays, unforeseen costs or even the loss of strategic clients.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Another key learning experience has been the ability to\u00a0identify\u00a0reliable sources and\u00a0translate technical information into practical<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0understandable guidance for companies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Working directly with real companies has taught me the importance of <strong>clear communication<\/strong>, <strong>technical precision<\/strong>, and<strong> professional empathy<\/strong> when providing tailored solutions. I have also observed first-hand the crucial role the Chamber of Commerce plays as <strong>a bridge between Spain and the United Kingdom<\/strong>, facilitating understanding between two distinct regulatory and commercial frameworks. Ultimately, this experience has shown me that international trade is not merely the movement of goods across borders, but the building of trust, collaboration, and shared objectives among those who make it possible.<\/p>\n<p>This learning process has also highlighted the importance of <strong>teamwork<\/strong>. I began as a new member of the Team and, over time, gradually took on coordination responsibilities that allowed me to lead certain tasks and guide other interns. Now, as I complete this stage, I feel particularly proud to see this responsibility pass to a colleague whom I have had the opportunity to train and support throughout her learning process.<\/p>\n<p>This internship has been an invaluable experience, deepening my understanding of international trade and demonstrating the lasting impact of <strong>collaboration<\/strong>, <strong>mentorship<\/strong>, and <strong>shared learning<\/strong> within a professional, cross-border environment.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Blog post written by Ana\u00efs Kronengold, Foreign Trade Assistant at the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the UK<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover how an internship at the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the UK provides practical experience in international trade, helping SMEs navigate the UK market and highlighting the value of cross-border collaboration and mentorship<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":77,"featured_media":33688,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/spanishchamber.co.uk\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33683"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/spanishchamber.co.uk\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/spanishchamber.co.uk\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spanishchamber.co.uk\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/77"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spanishchamber.co.uk\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33683"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/spanishchamber.co.uk\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33683\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spanishchamber.co.uk\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33688"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/spanishchamber.co.uk\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33683"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spanishchamber.co.uk\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33683"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spanishchamber.co.uk\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}