Partner Article

East Midlands businesses receive global export support

East Midlands businesses will receive advice on how to enhance international exports in a workshop run by UKTI.

The Government exporting body has set up a series of workshops to aid companies by providing a “Passport to Export” scheme.

Surveys carried out by UKTI have shown that two thirds of firms have aspirations to increase their international output and to compete on the world stage.

The UKTI programme will help SMEs in the East Midlands to establish a foothold in the global market, after helping nearly 2,000 companies in the region since the scheme opened in 2001.

Organisations will be able to attend workshops on market research, routes to market and export planning, as well as benefiting from one-on-one advice from local export specialists after the event.

Derby-based luxury furniture company, Wheathills, took part in the programme in 2009 after struggling in the recession.

Wheathills owner, Nigel Heldreich said: ““The workshop was absolutely essential.It’s as much about knowing the pitfalls and what not to do as anything. I may not know all the answers but now I know what the questions are I need to ask.”

Peter Hogarth, Regional Director for UK Trade & Investment East Midlands, said: “Research shows that companies who export are more competitive, more productive and much less likely to fail than non-exporters.

“Businesses also tell us that they become more innovative when they export and this benefits their home sales, and they gain more confidence by selling into their overseas competitor’s own back yard.

“To remain in the black we need to export and the Passport to Export programme can help businesses do it.”

The programme will take place across the East Midlands between 6th September and 14th March.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .