When it comes to exporting there is no doubt that my region, the North East, is still heavily reliant on the European and US markets. Having said that, many local companies are doing great business further afield and this trend needs to gather pace quickly.
Among those leading the way is Cleveland Bridge UK Ltd, in Darlington, and we were delighted to be able to join Crispin Simon, Director of Trade Development for the UK and Executive Board member for UKTI on a tour of the company during a visit to the region earlier this month.
We spent time touring Cleveland Bridge’s impressive facilities, discussing the fabulous history of the company (including projects in Zambesi, Sydney Harbour, the Forth Bridge) and saw the sparks fly as the welders went to work.
Other notable highlights of the visit included a wonderful tour of Teesport, courtesy of PD Ports. The River Tees handles huge amounts of freight – five times more than the Tyne - and is a truly impressive regional asset.
And a visit to Teesside wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the world-class Wilton complex - thanks to Intertek for a fascinating visit and tour of its labs.
One of the secrets of their success is the fact they ‘re looking further afield, at High Growth Markets, for new business and that’s the focus of Export Week in May.
Whilst developed economies are still struggling with financial uncertainty and slow recovery, emerging markets are undergoing rapid growth and creating opportunities and appeal for companies to expand operations into these high growth areas.
At UKTI we know that striking out into new and unfamiliar markets can be daunting, but many more North East companies could and should be taking advantage of the opportunities these markets offer. That is why UKTI is hosting a special Export Week (13-17 May) that is dedicated to these high growth markets.
High growth markets are changing the face of international business - it is these growing economies which offer today’s and more importantly tomorrow's opportunities. With so many millions of potential new customers, low-cost communications, and improving infrastructure, the time to act is now. By waiting too long, businesses will allow competitors to build a presence and market share in those areas, making it more expensive to commit resources and more difficult to compete effectively when they finally decide to take the plunge.
Export Week is designed to help the region’s businesses explore those markets that perhaps aren’t so obvious and to show how we can help you reach them. Events are taking place all over the country, and in the North East we have put together a programme of events and activities that will inspire NE exporters to think about exporting to some of these countries, including Mexico, Brazil, China, Vietnam and Indonesia. Events will take place right across the region, offering something for both the novice and experienced exporter.
And one of the highlights of the week will be this year’s annual North East Export Awards dinner, where we will be announcing the award winners and celebrating the achievements of the region’s heroes of export at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light on Thursday 16 May.
There is no doubt that the past year has been full of challenges for UK companies but I strongly believe that almost any company can and should export its products and services - from single-owner operations to large corporations.
I therefore invite you all to join UKTI at one of our many regional events during 13-17 May, to find out more about these countries and how UKTI can help your business grow.
We have an array of support packages to help, but the first step must come from business. So I would encourage you to take that step today and seize the challenge. Aim high and act now - we look forward to seeing as many of you as possible that week.
You can find out more about Export Week events in the North East, and throughout the UK, at www.exportweek.ukti.gov.uk