A conference to help small and medium-sized West Midland businesses seek out new export markets is being staged by the region's leading business organisations.

The Institute of Directors and the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAEW) have teamed up with UK Trade and Industry to put on the half-day conference on October 13.

John Phillips, regional director of the IoD, said: "British businesses must export to survive - yet latest figures show a slow-down in foreign trade.

"From the Prime Minister down, small and medium-sized companies are being urged to expand their horizons and conquer new markets.

"Now a special export conference is being staged in Birmingham to help SMEs in the West Midlands seize the opportunity."

The "Exporting for Growth" conference will offer smaller companies thinking of looking for new markets in the global economy the practical advice and expertise they need to help them on their way.

"Exporting for Growth" takes place at 11, Brindleyplace, Birmingham, on Wednesday, October 13 from 8.30am to 1pm.

Delegates will receive one-to-one advice from UK Trade and Investment experts on specific export markets.

They will also hear from a top-level panel of speakers who will offer expert analysis of the key export markets of India, China and the Middle East.

Speakers include Miles Templeman, the director general of the IoD. He is a marketing specialist who has worked on major consumer brands such as Daz, Ribena, Lucozade and Levi jeans.

A former Managing Director of Threshers and Whitbread, Mr Templeman was responsible fopr the growth of brands such as Boddingtons and Stella Artois.

Clive Parritt, Deputy President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, will unveil the results of an annual global survey of SMEs looking at the impact of regulation and tax rules in different countries.

Mr Parritt has worked with listed and privately owned companies, venture capital firms, accountancy firms, corporate finance boutiques and private equity houses.

He is chairman of Baronsmead VCT2 plc, DiGiCo Europe Limited and BG Consulting Group Limited. He is also a director of London & Associated Properties plc and F & C US Smaller Companies plc.

UKTI's managing director (business) Brian Shaw will look at the agency's work in encouraging businesses to export.

Leading accountancy firm RSM Tenon will present some real examples of how companies can set about looking for new markets.

And industrialist Rob Hill will look at the highs and lows experienced by his own small Black Country business Metallisation, which relies heavily on foreign markets for most of its work.

Mr Phillips said: "At a time when the region is losing jobs and manufacturing capacity to the Far East and other cheap-labour markets, the importance of working locally and thinking globally has never been greater.

"This event is aimed at marketing and finance directors, chief executives, managing directors of SMEs and their advisers.

"It will be particularly useful to small and medium-sized businesses, who are thinking about exporting for the first time."

Nigel Hastilow, regional director of the ICAEW, said: "Exports from the West Midlands are helping to pull us out of recession but there is still a very long way to go. We hope this conference will do something to help the export drive which is so vital to the economy's prospects."

The cost for the event, including lunch, is £45 + VAT (£52.88) for ICAEW and IoD members and £60 + VAT (£70.50) for non-members.  To book contact sue.hurrell@iod.com or Deborah.turner@icaew.com