Data released today shows that UK Trade & Investment (UKTI)
is helping hundreds more companies than ever before to export. The
latest quarterly survey shows that a record 20,700 businesses were
helped to generate £3.6 billion in additional profit.
Of these, over 1,300 companies were from the East Midlands.
UKTI customers were interviewed in early 2009 as part of the
independent Performance and Impact Monitoring Survey (PIMS). While
they reported that the global economic downturn had affected their
businesses, over half (51%) were experiencing increasing demand
from abroad.
The survey confirmed that UKTI had shot past its target of
helping 20,000 businesses in twelve months. It said that 20,700 UK
firms had received "significant assistance" from UKTI, an increase
of 1,400 companies on the previous survey.
UKTI's customers, of which 90% are small and medium-sized
businesses, estimated that UKTI helped their businesses to generate
£3.6 billion in additional profit, up from £3 billion
last year.
Minister for Trade and Investment Lord Davies of Abersoch
said:
"These excellent results show that UK Trade & Investment is
helping UK firms to navigate out of the downturn.
"Companies that export are more resilient. In these difficult
times, our challenge is to ensure businesses know there is
Government help on offer for firms willing to seek out business
opportunities overseas. UK Trade & Investment can help to find
the markets that can make the difference."
Changes that came into effect this month mean UKTI is able to
offer more help to UK businesses.
From 1 April, UKTI doubled the number of grants that individual
businesses can receive for its Tradeshow Access Programme
(TAP).
Each year, over 3,000 UK businesses receive TAP grants of up to
£1,800 to participate in tradeshows abroad. This financial
year, grants are available for over 400 trade shows in many
markets. They include the 'Big 5' construction show in Dubai, an
offshore oil & gas show in Brazil, a broadcast media show in
Beijing and the Medica life sciences show in Germany. "Solo" TAP
grants are also available for companies wishing to exhibit
independently at events not listed on the UKTI website.
Under the new rules, the number of grants available to
businesses in their lifetime will double to six per company, with
the proviso that the company visits at least two different markets.
And for businesses that have already benefited from the TAP
programme, the slate has been wiped clean, and previously awarded
grants will not be taken into account.
Also from 1 April, a new package of support announced by Prime
Minister Gordon Brown has come on stream. UKTI's 'Gateway to Global
Growth' initiative will provide specialist and tailored financial
and legal advice to over 1,200 businesses in the next year to
support their growth internationally.
UKTI's Acting Chief Executive Dominic Jermey added:
"Breaking into new markets is never easy but UK Trade &
Investment can help to guide firms through to business success.
There are great opportunities out there for companies. Our message
is that by exporting, you go further."
UKTI is encouraging businesses to register on its website
(http://www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk) to find out more about the
Government help on offer.
Building on its existing efforts to promote the benefits of
exporting, UKTI's advertisements with the message to 'Take it to
the WorldUK' can be seen in major transport hubs in England, in
print media and on the UK's iconic black taxis.
East Midlands export success stories
Lincolnshire firms thinks big as Canadian profits climb
Grantham-based leadership development firm Bridle International
has proved the road to Canadian exporting need not be a rocky one,
thanks to help and advice from UKTI. Through UKTI's Passport to
Export, Bridle decided to focus its attention on Canada and their
staff now spend 40 per cent of their time there, with a base in
Toronto run day to day by a local employee.
Contact lens company gets clearer focus on overseas
opportunities
Thanks to using the Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS)
run by UKTI, Northampton-based Contact Lenses has doubled its sales
figures. OMIS provided detailed information on India, including
advice on potential cultural barriers and how to follow up leads
for example, and suggested a distributor for Contact Lenses to
approach.
Profits snowball after Towcester firm receives UKTI support
After attending a UKTI trade exhibition, Towcester firm Variohm
EuroSensor is helping Latvian based Hiberna Iceboards with its
product development to improve the direction, speed and turning
movements of regular iceboards. The company has also benefited from
UKTI's overseas market introduction service (OMIS), which helped
find partners in Poland and Hungary.