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Dublin visited by UKTI North West delegation

Businesses from across the UK will join a trade mission to Dublin on Tuesday organised by UKTI North West, in a bid to boost exporting to Ireland.

More than 60 UK delegates flew from Manchester and Heathrow Airports, along with firms from across Cheshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Cumbria.

Businesses on the trip included Polaris Media Management from Ellesmere Port, Cumbrian firm Appleby Bakery, ICS Industrial Services from Chester and Salford-based Slaughterhouse Studios.

UKTI North West said delegates will hear from established exporters ACDC Lighting from Lancashire and Cumbria Export Champions, HiDef Aerial Surveying.

Mark Robinson, director at HiDef, commented: “I will be talking to companies about our export journey generally and will be available to answer any questions the businesses may have.

“HiDef has worked with UKTI over the last few years to maximise our exports, and we are proud to be considered Export Champions.

“It is fantastic that so many delegates are coming to Dublin to increase their export knowledge and we are happy to make ourselves available to share our experiences.”

Irish residents spend an average of £3,558 on British goods every year, and Ireland is currently the fifth largest export market for the North West, with firms in the region exporting goods worth approximately £1.2bn during 2011/12.

UKTI added that the Irish market is particularly attractive to exporters because of its young population, with a third of people aged between 25 and 44, while food and drink was highlighted as a particularly successful industry.

Companies will be welcomed by UKTI Ireland’s director, Simon McKeever and ambassador Dominick Chilcott as well as partners and senior directors from a variety of Irish firms.

Mike Eccleshall, UKTI North West’s deputy regional director, who is leading the visit, said: “The trip will be a great introduction to what exporting is all about, and Ireland is a good country to choose as your first export market due to its close proximity and links to the UK.

“Just under half of our exports still go to EU countries so they’re a sensible choice for new exporters as the cost of flights and transportation is relatively inexpensive.

“Once you’ve successfully exported to one country, it also makes it much easier to start targeting others.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .