Yorkshire businesses seek export advice with Chamber International

Over the last year, a record number of meetings with businesses wanting to export have been attended by specialist advisers at Chamber International.

In total, 493 meetings were attended by Chamber International export advisers up to April 2015, which is a 10% rise than the prior year.

Most of these requests came from Yorkshire-based small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs), although other meetings were held with companies throughout the UK.

Businesses in sectors including food and drink, agricultural products, healthcare items, aerosol manufacturers, and paint manufacturers were among those wanting assistance on issues such as access to export finance, making overseas contacts, the Government’s International Business Network, involving chambers of commerce overseas; and the Enterprise Europe Network.

David Attia, Chamber International senior associate, said: “This significant increase in the demand for face-to-face advice is indicative of the growing interest in exporting which we hope will translate to rebalancing the region’s economy.

“Enquiries came from businesses ranging from sole entrepreneurs with a bright idea, new companies which have received overseas sales enquiries through their website and need advice on how to close the deal and deliver the product to established exporters wishing to break into new markets.

“It is very heartening that the call for more exporting from the Government and efforts being made by many agencies including, in Yorkshire, Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, is being rewarded by a groundswell of interest from business people.”

Chamber International helps chambers of commerce with a wide range of specialist international trade services and is also supporting Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) by delivering its We Are International export campaign, which aims to garner an extra £1.6bn to ten local authority areas and create thousands of new jobs in the next five years.