Pictured above: Peter Hogarth, International Trade Director
for UKTI
Small and medium sized Derby rail companies will be getting a
helping hand to secure business overseas after Derby and Derbyshire
Rail Forum (DDRF) and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) agreed to
establish a dedicated rail export partnership at a meeting on 11th
April.
Peter Hogarth, International Trade Director for UKTI, said:
"By working closely with the DDRF we can help local rail supply
chain companies to develop their export business. There are massive
opportunities for rail supply companies overseas and we want to do
what we can to ensure local firms are taking advantage of
these.
"The latest export statistics, to the end of December 2010, show
East Midlands firms are still behind - we had the smallest regional
rise of 3.1 per cent, compared to the same period in the previous
year. Total export sales for the region in 2010 were worth more
than £15 billion.
"Now is the perfect time for local firms to recognise how it
makes good business sense to export. Firms that do are proved
to be more innovative, productive, profitable and resilient.
"UKTI has a high value opportunities team which identifies
multi-million pound projects around the world which the UK should
win, and where we can we do our best to help them. By helping large
companies to win we also help their UK supply chains to secure
elements of the overall scheme.
"Through this partnership with DDRF we will be developing an
East Midlands rail opportunities programme for DDRF members and we
have a joint export event planned for October.
The DDRF currently has almost 100 members comprising of rail
companies from across the East Midlands.
Michelle Craven, Vice Chair of the DDRF and Director of Nelsons
Solictors, said:
"This is a very positive way forward for local rail companies.
One of the problems for our SMEs has always been identifying
projects overseas they can get involved in. It's easy to
identify the large projects for large firms- such as the High Speed
Rail project in California - but difficult to identify where SMEs
can supply into these large contracts or even where supply routes
exist into companies abroad. With rail in this country being so
dependent on Government money its vital firms look outside the UK
and this formalised partnership with UKTI is going to help our
firms do this."