Pictured above:  Elizabeth Evans of the Whisky Tasting Company; Richard Smith, International Trade Adviser, UK Trade & Investment; Colin Sinclair of the Whisky Tasting Company

More than 250 business men and women from across the region have been talking business with 68 commercial officers representing 56 countries at a major export event in the West Midlands last week. 

Hosted by UK Trade & Investment and supported by European Regional Development Funding,  the Explore Export Roadshow, which took place at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry (29th June), provided small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with an unparalleled opportunity to find out more about the nuts and bolts of exporting, or how they can develop existing overseas business. Company representatives were able to talk to UK Trade & Investment International Trade Advisers; meet with commercial officers from British embassies all over the world; attend seminars and network with successful exporters. 

One company hoping to join the thousands of West Midlands firms currently exporting successfully overseas is the Whisky Tasting Company, based in Shrewsbury. Set up just one year ago by partners Colin Sinclair and Elizabeth Evans, the Whisky Tasting Company provides high end whisky tasting sets from a huge range of single malt, limited edition and rare whiskies. The company has already delivered its first order to prestigious food emporium Fortnum and Mason and is now looking at export opportunities with the help of UK Trade & Investment and the Passport to Export programme for new exporters. 

Colin says: 

"Explore Export was a great place to find all the right people in one place. We were able to meet with commercial officers from the countries of interest as well as meet companies providing complementary services such as language translation. As a young company it was useful to network with other companies who export and gain confidence from what they're doing, as well as meet others who are in the process of exporting for the first time. The fact that the event was well organised, with our International Trade Adviser Richard Smith to hand, reflected well on UKTI and has provided the confidence that there is a good support network in place."

He continues: 

"Our Trade Adviser Richard Smith has been particularly pro-active and supportive of our products in overseas markets. Without Richard's support we would have tended to focus our initial exports into English speaking countries, which could have been limiting, but with his support we have been able to consider other markets because we have gained the confidence that language and cultural barriers can be overcome."

International Trade Adviser Richard Smith says: 

"The Whisky Tasting Company has an excellent product which I can see doing very well in a number of overseas markets, including Japan. Through the Passport to Export programme, we can help Colin and Elizabeth maximise the company's potential overseas. I would urge anyone thinking of exporting to pick up the phone to their local International Trade Team based at their Chamber of Commerce. There is so much we can do to help West Midlands businesses break into overseas markets, or develop existing markets - from introducing them to potential customers and distributers to providing market research and advising on red tape and local customs."

John Otter, European Project Manager, UK Trade & Investment West Midlands says: 

"The feedback we've had from the business men and women who attended the Explore Export event has been fantastic. It's been an excellent opportunity for businesses to meet so many experts in international trade in one place and to learn about so many countries and their export potential in just a few hours. This has been an important event to help move forward the West Midlands' export activity - so vital to the region's economic success." 

There was a further opportunity on the day for Midlands-based companies interested in supplying the life sciences sector to discuss export possibilities or find potential business partners. A 'Life Sciences - Meet the Buyer' event at the venue, organised by UK Trade & Investment in collaboration with Midlands Enterprise Europe and Medilink WM, was an ideal chance for delegates to talk to international buyers representing a range of medical technology companies from across Europe and beyond.  

For more details about how UK Trade & Investment can help your business expand into new markets overseas, contact the international trade team at your local Chamber of Commerce.