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Export Academy workshop helps companies ‘Go Global’

Newcastle University Business School has teamed up with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) for the last of its Herbert Loebl Export Academy 2012 export workshops.

Held on Wednesday April 4 at RTC North in Sunderland, the workshop will also mark the launch of UKTI’s new International Trade Services across the North East.

Attendees will include a group of local companies who are all taking up the challenge set by the Minister for Trade and Investment, when he visited the North East last week to urge companies to take up export.

In a speech in Gateshead, Lord Stephen Green highlighted that the North East is the only English region that is a net exporter of goods and services, with an impressive £13.5 billion of exports. However, while this is a strong figure, the UK still remains behind Europe when it comes to exporting.

The 2012 Herbert Loebl Export Academy, delivered in partnership with RTC North and UKTI, offers young and developing businesses in the region the chance to explore, with expert practitioners, how and why they could consider exporting and the practicalities of getting their business export-ready. A number of businesses from across the region have benefitted from the Academy workshops and are currently putting their export plans into action.

Dr Joanna Berry, Director of Engagement, Newcastle University Business School, said: “Our final Herbert Loebl Export Academy on 4 April, is open for all to attend and will be a chance for us to celebrate the progress of the firms in their export journeys and to see firsthand the various ways we can work in partnership to grow businesses and boost the region’s economy.

“Exporting can transform businesses by developing new markets for existing products and services or indeed, developing the product offering in response to international requirements and preferences.

“With proximity to airports and ports and the growth of online trading, businesses in the region are well placed to develop their international businesses and Newcastle University Business School is delighted to continue to work with Dr Herbert Loebl to help businesses in the region achieve this.”

Dr Herbert Loebl, OBE, an alumnus and honorary graduate of Newcastle University, founded the Joyce-Loebl Electronics and Scientific Instrument Group and has played a leading role in developing the economic fortunes of the North East region.

The new UKTI International Trade Services will be delivered by consortium including the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC), RTC North and the North East Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC).

Gordon Ollivere MBE is RTC North CEO. He added: “I am delighted we can coincide the launch of these exciting new services to support international trade with the final export workshop of 2012. Herbert is a great example to North East exporters and it is fitting that the export academy that bares his name will be closely linked to a new and exciting partnership that will help drive forward the export agenda in the North East.”

Through a series of participative workshops, case studies and mentoring from regional businesses, attendees were able to get to grips with what successful exporting entails to develop an export plan to drive their business forward in a way that will work for them.

Newcastle University Business School is offering organisations and entrepreneurs across the region to attend the final session which is taking place at RTC North Offices, 1 Hylton park, Wessington Way, Sunderland on the 4 April, 9:30-11:30am. For more information and to register your place, please contact jenny.hasenfuss@newcastle.ac.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Newcastle University Business School .