- Liverpool based Visual5D take their services to a global market with support from the Liverpool City Region Export Programme
- Project Director John Ferry explains how grant funding and specialised support from the programme helped expand their business in America and shares his advice for local business leaders
Visual5D (V5D) is a Liverpool-based visualisation studio specialising in construction planning. They’ve developed innovative software that brings construction schedules to life through immersive 3D animations, ideal for bid submissions and client presentations. Their mission is to give building contractors a clear competitive advantage by transforming complex construction plans into engaging, easy-to-understand visual narratives – accessible to both technical and non-technical audiences alike.
When looking to grow the business they decided that new global markets would be a key component of growth. To look at the opportunities to export they turned to the Liverpool City Region Export programme for support. Project Director John Ferry explains:
“As we continue to grow, one of our key challenges is expanding our reach to a global audience while remaining rooted in the UK.”
Through research, Visual5D identified New York Build Expo – New York’s biggest Festival of Construction as an excellent opportunity to showcase their services to an international market and, through the Export Programme they were able to access grant funding to support their attendance.
Through research, Visual5D identified New York Build Expo – New York’s biggest Festival of Construction as an excellent opportunity to showcase their services to an international market and, through the Export Programme they were able to access grant funding to support their attendance.
John says:
“Thanks to an export grant, we were able to attend the New York Build Expo 2025, where we met with potential clients, visited their construction sites and offices. While in New York, we also met with local construction firms, gaining valuable market insights and identifying new business opportunities.
“The funding grant acted as a catalyst for us, pushing us to formalise our business plan and target high-value clients.”
Their research also meant Visual5D had a real understanding of the importance of knowing your target audience and, through the Export Programme, they received additional support to tailor their marketing to an American market. John continues:
“We created a dedicated webpage on the V5D site to promote our presence at the event, including contact details and a booking schedule. All product literature was adapted for the American market, ensuring cultural and linguistic relevance. We also produced case study material specifically targeted toward the clients we aim to work with.
“This support has been instrumental in helping us establish a foundation for international growth across the region.”
This carefully planned and researched event attendance has already had an impressive impact on the business with John explaining:
“As a result of the trip, we secured meetings with key decision-makers – many of whom were so impressed with our services that we successfully signed a major Enterprise Agreement worth $1 million.
“We outperformed several locally based competitors in New York. The investment into V5D was largely driven by the fact that we were able to meet face-to-face and build strong relationships with senior stakeholders.
“As a direct result, we’ve expanded our team, bringing on three new full-time staff members to support our continued growth.”
Having seen the benefits of international growth John is keen to share his experience with other business leaders in the Liverpool City Region saying:
“We believe we now have a strong understanding of how to successfully export our services abroad, here are some key takeaways:
- Thoroughly research and visit your target market – It’s essential to spend time understanding the local industry landscape. Meeting clients in person, as we did, builds trust, strengthens relationships, and gives invaluable insight into the market’s expectations.
- Tailor your promotional materials to local culture and language – Your website, brochures, and presentations should reflect the cultural norms, tone, and language of the target country. For example, we adapted all of our marketing literature to use American English when entering the US market.
- Align your working hours to the client’s time zone – Flexibility is key. Operating in sync with your clients’ schedule—such as adjusting to New York’s 9–5 workday (2–10 pm UK time)—shows commitment and makes communication more effective.
- Be proud to promote your British identity – The British brand carries strong global recognition. Emphasising our UK roots added credibility and trustworthiness to our offering.
“From refining our pitch to adapting our delivery methods, we’ve learned that success in exporting requires agility, cultural awareness, and a deep commitment to building relationships.”