A savvy businessman aims to cash in on record numbers of people upping sticks to live and work abroad.

Nigel Ayres is founder and CEO of World of Expats – a new website that supports and guides people who are making the ‘big switch’ to foreign countries.

The firm, based in Plumpton Green, helps expats move their companies abroad and assists individuals who are hunting for new jobs, contracts, properties or investments.

And with UN figures claiming 214 million people lived outside their home country in 2010 – up from 150 million in 1995 – Ayres and his firm seem to have found a wanting market.

Mr Ayres, an expat himself in Hong Kong, Malaysia and twice in California, said: “There is a particular focus on those who are outbound from or inbound to the UK or USA.

“I felt that existing sites did not provide the level of support that was required by a growing number of people who wanted to live or work abroad.

“The site includes comprehensive guidance on 176 destinations, however, so there is information of value to anyone moving from anywhere to anywhere.

“The site also has advice on the issues faced by expats, tips from expats and provides tools, including property search facilities, foreign exchange functionality and many other tools to support expats in their journey. Overall there is over 5,000 pages of content.”

Mr Ayres said the businesses’ first challenge was to continue to develop more and better content to ensure people “get the most from their life abroad”.

Additionally, the firm will also be introducing a social networking facility to give people the ability to connect with fellow expats before they make the switch through the World of Expats community.

Mr Ayres added: “This will give them the opportunity to get advice or find people with similar interests before they get to their new home.

“Weplantoholdthefirst of a series of consumer shows, World of Expats Fair – Living and Working Abroad, in London on November 14 and 15.

“There will then be similar events in Birmingham next April and in New York, Houston and Chicago in the US in 2015.”

World of Expats is currently run from a homeoffice, however the firm will shortly be moving to offices in Brighton or Lewes.

Mr Ayres added: “World of Experts is different to other providers because of the combination of the quality of the site, the comprehensive range of information provided and the link to events.

We do not just give advice, but provide useful tools and services to help them at every stage of the journey.”

For more information visit worldofexpats.com