New UKTI research reveals barriers and drivers to international trade in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Export Chief calls on East Midlands business to export for growth -Export Week 10 to 14 November
As the sixth Export Week kicks off, East Midlands export chief Ian Harrison has called on companies to seek help from UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to realise their export potential.
He made the call as new research revealed the top three barriers holding Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire companies back from generating more export business in the area are: Global issues/competition, the effort required and dealing with legal or tax regulations.
The research also revealed nearly 65% of companies in the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire LEP area that are already exporting are expecting to see exporting levels increase over the next 12 months.
Ian Harrison, Regional Director for UKTI East Midlands said:
“UKTI are keen to offer support so companies can overcome barriers to international trade. Our research showed that 14% of companies across the region are exporting, some 8,000 companies, and a further 2% would like to.
“By helping just this 2% of companies to export for the first time, it would provide a significant boost to the regional economy.
“This Export Week we want to ensure that those companies that want to export can, by taking full advantage of the support available from UKTI. We are bringing the world to the region and we hope that the expertise and advice available at our other events during the week will help businesses on the fast track to exporting success.”
The research was commissioned by UKTI East Midlands to better understand the barriers and drivers to international trade.
D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership Chief Executive David Ralph has welcomed the new research.
D2N2 – which covers Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire – is looking to secure 55,000 new private sector jobs by 2023. It has responsibility for some multi-million pound government funding streams to drive economic development.
David Ralph said the results from UKTI East Midlands’ research would provide a useful tool moving forward. He said:
“The East Midlands economy is the fastest growing region in the UK, second only to Greater London – and our success lies particularly with international trade and manufacturing. Just this week from UKTI, we learned that almost 65% of UK exporters believe that their turnover will increase in the next 12 months.
“Exporting gives us greater access to knowledge transfer, opens up new markets and increases innovation which is key to D2N2’s Strategic Economic Plan to drive economic growth over the next ten years.
“We welcome this research and it is extremely useful to help us understand local activity and provide a base on which to build further to drive forward the local economy.
“This research will help create investor confidence and it demonstrates the importance of exporting to growing the D2N2 economy, which, in turn, creates new, sustainable jobs. Exporting is a key component to achieving our ambitious goals.”
Ian added:
“The research is timely for a number of reasons not least how the region can contribute to meeting the Government’s targets to double the UK’s exports to £1trn by 2020, get an additional 100,000 firms to export and increase the number of firms exporting from 20 to 25%.
“We would urge companies across the area to get in touch with UKTI to get the help they need to overcome the barriers to export.”
To export contact UKTI East Midlands on 0345 052 4001 or email info@uktiem.co.uk.
Follow UKTI East Midlands on Twitter @ukti_emids and @IanH_UKTIEM and take part in the conversation using #ExportWeek
Export Week events taking place across the East Midlands
This year there will be 12 Export Week events across all counties in the East Midlands. We expect over 400 businesses to attend.
Monday, 10 November
- Amber Valley Business Network Event – Opportunities for local businesses– Alfreton Hall, Alfreton
- Live webinar – Importing and Exporting – An Induction. Aimed at businesses who are about to be involved in International trade.
Tuesday 11 November
- Harborough Business Information Breakfast – Introduction to exporting, run by Market Harborough District Council in partnership with UKTI -Harborough Innovation Centre, Market Harborough
- Passport to Export Workshop, organised by UKTI East Midlands – Stoke Rochford Hall, Grantham
- Building Bridges to Export. A joint event run by LATI (Leading Advanced Technology Initiative) and UKTI East Midlands for local companies who work in high-tech, science and engineering – Burleigh Court, Loughborough
Wednesday 12 November
- emita Sub-Saharan Africa Means Business, NSPCC, Beaumont Leys, Leicester
- Making it in Northamptonshire, UKTI, in partnership with Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership and Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce, iCon Environmental Innovation Centre, Daventry
Thursday 13 November
- ExploreExport, The Radisson Blu Hotel, East Midlands Airport, Export Week’s flagship event featuring representatives from 60 countries offering one-to-one advice
- Export Marketing Research Clinic (EMRS). UKTI, Innovation House, Raynesway, Derby
Friday 14 November 2014
- Made in Chesterfield, Sold to the World (a week long festival)- Dunston Innovation Centre, Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield and Chesterfield Borough Council.
- Business Italian for Beginners, The Village Nottingham, Chilwell, Nottingham
- Boston Export Fair: Pointing you in the right direction, Boston Golf Club, Cowbridge, Boston
