This is my first time in Exeter. I enjoyed the drive down through Somerset and into Devon. I tried out my best West Country accent in the car on the way down with lots of drawn out vowels. Glaaaaaastonbury, Yeooooooovil and salvaaaage! Probably good that it stayed in the car!
Karine Davies an International Trade Centre Adviser from the Exeter office met me and arranged a really interesting set of calls for me. The first company I met was Reed Chillcheater – they make a revolutionary fabric that keeps you warm in wet conditions. It has lots of applications but is particularly suited to canoeing, kayaking etc. Even James Bond aka Daniel Craig wears the product. The company already receives orders from Australia – I hope UKTI can support the company to grow in this market.
Next in was Frugi a maker of organic baby clothes – I bet you can’t look at the website without saying ahhhhh! They've made a business out of ethically and environmentally sound clothes for children. Apparently the company used to be called Cut4Cloth but as they say on the website ‘we changed it to Frugi - a word that not only rhymes with 'boogie', but also translates from Latin as 'Fruits of the Earth' which is a bit more reflective of what we're all about these days’. I have no doubt that Frugi will go down a storm with the parents and grandparents of Australian babies!
Teddington Appliance Controls have been around since 1928 – another clever, innovative, British manufacturing company. We discussed a piece of equipment they're working on which could make solid fuel burners significantly more efficient. Making things, making money and making a difference to the environment — a pretty potent combination. I think it's important that we continue to make things and maintain the skills to solve practical problems. UKTI Australia will support the company to find distributors and buyers for their products and hopefully we'll help them continue their success for another 81 years.
The new River Dart Electric 4.0 is an electric boat from Water Roo Craft. The company name may give it away that Jim Sawyers, their designer, was originally from Australia. Now Jim has designed a boat with a clever electric drive that can compete head to head with much larger manufacturers. Jim told me that electric boating had only become possible because of advances in battery technology. The boat is almost silent — great for sneaking up on fish. Finding partners, identifying boat shows and giving marketing advice are all ways UKTI can support this company to internationalise their smart technology.
The next company I saw was headed by another Aussie, they seem to be everywhere these days! Kyle Dent came to see me about his company Brushboarding™. Now you may have noticed that I've been quite excited about the companies I've met on this tour of the UK — and I have been. But Brushboarding really is a sexy product. Check out the picture below and click through to this video link.
The RAF have taken this new sport under their wing (no pun intended) and the opportunities for big corporates, cities and event type companies to use this technology as a sport, investment and public event are massive. I know there will be plenty of UKTI volunteers to work with this company! They offered me a go at Brushboarding, but I had to get to my next city. I am already regretting this decision.
Well my day in Exeter was a good one, these outstanding companies are absolutely on the front line, helping the UK trade its way out of recession, securing the key skills we need for a 21st century economy and supporting jobs and the future of our people. I am becoming an evangelist about all this.
