Make one more market your goal for Export Week
With only a few days to go until Export Week, I am issuing a challenge to all North West businesses to reach out to one more market. The UK needs to increase its exports to £1 trillion by 2020, and …
Clive Drinkwater
Clive Drinkwater is the regional director for UK Trade and Investment in the North West Region, responsible for helping North West businesses achieve success in overseas markets. Clive has taken up this role following extensive private sector experience in international trade, working in industry and selling to over 90 countries worldwide. Clive has particular experience in Asia, having gained first hand experience of the area during spells living and working in Indonesia, Malaysia and China
Doing the business at IFB 2014
It’s been an exhausting but rewarding first week at the International Festival for Business (IFB) 2014. The Prime Minister came to launch the whole event with a British Business Embassy which was fantastic. Senior visitors from all round the world …
Export to expand in 2014
2014 is getting off to a good start as business optimism is on the upturn. The CBI recently produced data showing that profitability has risen for the fifth consecutive quarter, employment is growing at its fastest pace since 2007 and …
My ten year forecast: export far and wide, or fail
I’ve always been entertained by what I know as Fiedler’s Rules of Forecasting. They’ve been attributed to a range of people from Winston Churchill to Cecil B DeMille and I’m sure we’ll never know who actually came up with them. …
India - an unexplored opportunity?
It’s always fascinating to go back to a country that you haven’t visited for a while. So it was with my visit to India last week, my first for about nine years. My parents used to live in Kerala and …
Like Giants Refreshed
I hope you’ve returned from your Christmas and New Year break, as my old headmaster used to say, like giants refreshed. I always enjoy a long break myself and use it to recharge the batteries – more necessary this year …
Architects of their own (international) success
I was thrilled to hear that the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) will be holding its prestigious Stirling Prize ceremony in Manchester for the first time on 13 October. I look forward to following the events on TV as they …
Looking ahead with confidence
A couple of interesting surveys came across my desk recently. The first was undertaken by North West Business Insider, supported by Ernst & Young looking at international trade patterns for North West firms. View the survey here I was struck by …
An Olympian effort for business
As the Olympic torch arrives in the Chester next Monday on the first North West leg of its pre-games tour, I ask myself what it is about the Olympics that excites me so much. As long ago as 1964, my …
New beginnings, an export challenge and taking the first step.
I’ve been a bit distracted lately. I had a marvellous holiday in Mexico with my wife and then came back to the birth of my new grand-daughter. Ava Violet Elizabeth is absolutely gorgeous and I’m happy to report that mother …