Published at 10:47, Tuesday, 03 July 2012

Carlisle MP John Stevenson hosted an event to encourage local businesses to be more pro-active in exporting to new markets around the globe. Trade minister Lord Green spoke at the event and answered questions from Cumbrian businesses.

Read a report of the event here

Here is some further information about exporting:

Mike Eccleshall, deputy director of UKTI in the North West explained that there three full time advisers in Cumbria to help firms with their export strategies
SMEs can benefit from the Passport Programme and receive £1,500 match funding to visit potential markets. £500 travel grants are available too.
The advisers are:
Sandra Thornber
(0)7764 372649
sandra.thornber@uktinorthwest.co.uk
Peter Gawne-Caine
(0)7764 635353
Peter.Gawne-Cain@uktinorthwest.co.uk
Ian Readman
Mobile: 07764 635 349
ian.readman@uktinorthwest.co.uk

What Cumbria’s businesses had to say about exporting:

Fred Story, chief executive of Story Group, asked Lord Green: “You talked about doing business in emerging markets, but if you use third world business values there is a risk you could face court proceedings.
“Will the same standards of justice be applied over there?”
Lord Green acknowledged that “corruption is an issue”, but said the recent Bribery Act drew a line in the sand that would protect “Brand Britain”. “The vast majority of businesses are saying it is not a problem, but if it costs us in the short-term in the long-term it is the right place to be.”

Chris Holmes, chief executive of Carr’s Milling: “We have had success with exporting from our businesses and have found it to be very inexpensive to ship things because there are lot of empty cargo ships going back.
“The way forward for the UK has be to technology and more support for innovation because we can’t compete with labour rates.”

Robert Martin, owner of Ansavalley Genetics. The company has been exporting since 2006 after years in which exporting breeding livestock wasn’t possible because of Foot and Mouth, Blue Tongue and other issues. UKTI supported a visit to a trade show in Quebec which has helped exports grown and they now account for 20 per cent of turnover.
Mr Martin said: “The key to exporting is researching the market.”

Keith Walker, managing director of Linton Tweeds, said: “Exporting is really important for the economy to get going. There are a number of hurdles such as the banks at a local level which don’t have the knowledge or information because the skills have been centralised.”

Paul Ashley, chairman of Clark Door, said: “Exporting has been helped in recent years by the currency remaining fairly stable, but one hurdle we face for continued growth is the skills shortage.
“There are no engineering degree giving institutions in the county so that means you have to recruit staff from elsewhere which can be hard.”

Published by http://www.in-cumbria.com