Member Article

Leeds export network reaches 40 with new appointments

THE 40th export ambassador has been appointed to support Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership’s We are International campaign which aims to get more business in the City Region exporting.

He is the founder of ND Metering Solutions, Bradford, Kris Szajdzicki, which exports worldwide. He follows the 39th appointed export ambassador, Lime Tree Europe Ltd managing director, Paul Walters.

The two join a fast-growing network of export ambassadors, selected from among Leeds City Region’s top exporting companies throughout the ten local authority areas, to provide hands-on help and mentoring to new exporters and businesses wanting to break into new overseas markets.

The export network is a key element of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership’s We are International campaign. The LEP initiative – delivered in partnership with international trade specialists Chamber International, UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) Yorkshire, Enterprise Europe Network and MY Export Hub – aims to add £1.6bn to the City Region economy and create thousands of jobs during the next five years.

Kris Szajdzicki says: “ I’m delighted to have been selected to join the We are International export ambassador network and to be able to assist businesses which see their future in overseas trade.

“Greater exporting has a role to play in the Leeds city region economy but companies starting out must realise that exporting is hard work The key to success in export is knowledge of your products and how they will fit into your new market in terms of the best route, the value chain, pricing.

“Novice exporters must appreciate that their target in each case is a partner who gets to understand how their product fits their local market. As with any partner, you need to understand their needs, how best to help them and vice-versa.

“The first sale to that new customer may feel like a real success but the real success comes when you celebrate years of year of your partnership and I believe the campaign can help many businesses to do this.”

Paul Walters says: “I’m delighted to become a We are International export ambassador, not just for the excitement of helping companies reap the rewards but because the region needs to help the government achieve its economic target. We cannot do this just by enabling existing exporters to increase their volumes. We need many new exporters and I’m convinced that they are out there.”

We are International export ambassador Dr Richard Smith, managing director of Leeds-based speciality chemicals company, Surfachem Group Ltd, and a member of The LEP’s Business Innovation and Growth Panel, said: “I’m delighted that Kris and Paul have joined our Export Network, bringing our total number of export ambassadors to 40 across the region.

“Both Kris and Paul have taken advantage of the immense business opportunities in overseas markets and, with many years’ experience between them of all aspects of international trade, they are ideally placed to share these experiences and help other business owners reach their full growth potential through exporting.

“Our export ambassadors have now supported over 300 small and medium-sized firms across the Leeds City Region to take the first steps towards exporting. Growing the Network substantially so that many more firms can benefit is our top priority for 2015.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mike Clarke Communications .