Last updated at 16:11, Tuesday, 31 July 2012

MARKET LEADER Lord Green passed on expert export advice to Cumbrian businesses LOUISE PORTER

CUMBRIAN firms are being urged to rise to the export challenge and take advantage of the government help that is available to help them break into new markets.

Ian Readman works for UKTI advising businesses in the county on how they can sell their products across the globe and says there is an impressive support package available for “export novices”.

The Passport to Export programme offers help to new exporters and provides up to £1,500 funding for travel or research, six days consultation and training support. There is also a Gateway to Global Markets programme that provides 12 months of support and help with research.

Mr Readman said: “We’ve already helped a lot of small companies to export, but there are more Cumbrian firms that could benefit from the UKTI services.

“We want to help set up sustainable exports rather just the one order and offer detailed support in setting up an action plan. We’ve also helped tourist attractions – which sometimes don’t think of themselves as exporters – promote themselves overseas or attend trade exhibitions.”

He was speaking following the visit of the government’s trade minister Lord Green to Carlisle to speak to a business audience as a guest of Carlisle MP John Stevenson and later went on to visit the Nestlé factory at Dalston.

He told guests at a Tullie House event: “Our trade deficit is just as significant a deficit as the one in public finances and we have to realise that growth lies overseas in Latin America, Asia and increasingly Africa as well as Eastern Europe.

“In every corner of the country I go to I hear heartwarming examples of companies that are getting out there and doing it and whether we are talking about hi-tech or traditional, large or small there are opportunities out there for everyone.”

Lord Green said his department was increasing the support for businesses to break into markets abroad including:

l Increasing the budget to support firms wanting to attend trade exhibitions;

l UK Export Finance packages that could help with credit cover and exchange risk for companies exporting outside the EU;

l Strengthening the network of UKTI representatives who can help develop export strategies and provide support funding.

A number of local businesses who had benefited from such support attended the event. They included Clark Door and livestock breeding specialist Ansavalley Genetics, of Dalston.

Ansavalley owner Robert Martin said exports now counted for 20 per cent of its turnover after help attending a trade show in Quebec and developing a strategy with UKTI support.

“It’s all about researching the market and realising what advantages you have in terms of quality to sell to overseas markets and the UKTI representative was very helpful,” he said.

Mr Stevenson said: “I think this has been very good for the Carlisle business community and I thought it was good that Lord Green has come up to Cumbria to recognise the important contribution that exporting is making to the local and national economy.

“Exports have to be a key part of our economic future.

“Now the next step needs to be for local businesses to be more fully engaged with the UKTI people here in Cumbria who can help with issues.”

At Nestlé, Lord Green toured the Dalston factory and paid tribute to its exporting success. “It was really great to see the role the Nestlé factory plays in Dalston, not only through the number of local people it employs but also how it can share its expertise in export with other local business.

“Given the present economic climate, exports offer a real opportunity for businesses to explore and open up new markets and I feel sure the companies who attended this event will look to exploit this area.”

Nestlé Dalston Factory Manager, Martin Scott said: “The event was a great success. Lord Green was very interested in seeing how we operate in the factory and was impressed to hear that more than 60 per cent of the products made in Dalston are exported to 26 markets overseas.”

l The UKTI representative for the Carlisle area is Ian Readman who can be contacted via ian.readman@uktinorthwest.co.uk.

First published at 16:09, Wednesday, 25 July 2012
Published by http://www.in-cumbria.com