Published at 16:04, Tuesday, 13 November 2012

GOOD EXAMPLE: Clive Drinkwater, North West Director of UK Trade and Investment, right, visiting the Wax Lyrical factory in Lindal with sales director Richard Wood HARRY ATKINSON REF: 50040958B000

ACLUSTER of Cumbrian firms have been picked as export champions.

Wax Lyrical, the Lindal-based home fragrance firm, joins, Playdale Playgrounds in Haverthwaite, Tata Steel, in Workington, Hidef Aerial Surveying Ltd in Cleator Moor and Pirelli in Carlisle.

The export champions initiative has been launched by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and Clive Drinkwater, regional director for the organisation visited Wax Lyrical’s base to launch the scheme.

Export Champions was being launched on Monday as part of Export Week, a drive led by trade and investment minister Lord Green to increase the number of British exporters by a quarter, adding a potential £36bn to the UK economy.

The firm was chosen due to its performance exporting to 40 countries and 45 per cent of its turnover consisting of overseas markets.

Wax Lyrical exports its range of candles, oil burners and reed diffusers to countries throughout the Middle East along with Russia, Japan, Spain, Italy and Germany and the company is has just recruited an export sales manager to help target new sales.

Richard Wood, sales director at Wax Lyrical, said: “The reason we have invested in the UK is to grow our export market.

“We sell on the back of the fact we’re British.

“Export has always been an important part of our businesses and we have a network of agents and distributors overseas.

“We already have a presence in over 40 markets but we are keen to continue growing our international business.

“Earlier this year we contacted UKTI to discuss how we can take our exports further.

“We’re delighted to be chosen as export champions and to be able to encourage other Cumbrian firms to export.”

The company will now provide advice and support to companies looking to enter the export market.

Mr Drinkwater said: “Our inaugural export champions are all businesses who will inspire and motivate those new to international trade, both by promoting the benefits of export via their own successes and by sharing their knowledge and experience for the benefit of other firms in the North West.

“It’s very important we get more firms exporting.

“I set a challenge, this financial year, to get 1,000 more UK firms – so far we have got about 500.

“We’re doing ok but we could do better.

“You get a real growth in manufacturing with export.”

“We tried to select people who were extremely successful in their field.”

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