Growing Your Business Through International Expansion

Описание: Welcome to OxTalks, powered by Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP). OxTalks is your partner in tackling business challenges and achieving your goals, giving an insight into the great work that Enterprise Oxfordshire does to support local organisations and communities. OxTalks host Howard Bentham talks to successful leaders from Oxfordshire and beyond to hear their advice to help your business flourish.

What does it truly take to transform a local business into a world-class global enterprise?

In this insightful conversation, host Howard Bentham speaks with Lis Lewis-Jones, the CEO of Liquid, an award-winning integrated communications agency. Lis shares the compelling story of launching her business in a room above her mother's garage in 2004 and scaling it across 26 jurisdictions and 20 time zones, with offices in the UK and Australia.

This episode is an essential listen for ambitious SMEs considering international expansion, exploring the challenges of navigating new cultures, complex tax laws, and fluctuating exchange rates. Liz candidly shares her "glass half full" approach and the strategic moves—including acquisitions and leveraging new trade agreements—that fueled Liquid's immense growth, even winning Global Agency of the Year.

Crucially, the discussion highlights the current environment where a significant majority of UK private businesses (92%) are confident of growth ​​with over nine in ten planning on diversifying and expanding their businesses by creating new service lines or products, or entering new markets including overseas as reported by KPMG, making Lis’s practical, real-world advice on tariffs, business support, and market research more vital than ever.

(00:00) - Welcome to OxTalks
(02:29) - Liz Lewis-Jones & The Liquid Origin Story
(05:43) - The Evolution of PR and Reputation in the Digital Age
(09:30) - Personal Life, Business Growth, and Navigating the Lows
(14:48) - First Steps Overseas: Lessons from the Channel Islands
(18:24) - The Leap to Australia: Timing, Clients, and the Setup
(23:25) - Overcoming Distance: Culture, Technology, and Managing Currency
(29:33) - Trade Tariffs, Opportunities, and Finding the Niche
(34:03) - Best Advice & Future Goals

Lis Lewis-Jones: CEO of Liquid, an award-winning integrated communications agency operating across 26 jurisdictions. Starting the business in 2004, she has built it into a global player with key offices in the UK and Australia. An expert in crisis communications and strategic PR, Lis is a former national president of the CIPR and currently serves as a Midlands Export Champion for the UK Department for Business & Trade, having recently been named Business Woman of the Year in 2025.

Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP) is an Oxfordshire County Council-owned company. It is our role to champion Oxfordshire’s economic potential, acting as a catalyst and convener to drive a dynamic, sustainable and growing economy. Our vision is for Oxfordshire to be a vibrant and inclusive world-leading economy – driven by innovation, enterprise, collaboration and research excellence.

Our work has made a significant impact, helping to create favourable conditions for economic growth in Oxfordshire. We provide support for hundreds of businesses and communities in the county, supporting their desire to grow and attract the best talent locally, nationally and internationally.

OxTalks is recorded at the Oxford Podcast Studio and produced by Story Ninety-Four.