Member Article

Creative North partners with UKTI, RMT Accountants and Square One Law to stimulate North East exports

Gateshead-based Creative North has partnered with UKTI, RMT Accountants and Square One Law this month to get more North East digital and creative companies exporting their services.

In line with UKTI’s ExploreExport week, the creative learning provider is working with industry experts to be the go-to place for any business looking to make more money and to engage with international businesses.

Square One Law are part of the initiative to provide legal advice for businesses who export their services overseas in the film, entertainment, IT and technology sector. In addition, RMT Accountants are on board to help businesses which understand the value of expert advice make the right decisions.

The first of many activities took place on Tuesday 3rd of November where influences and key industry experts were brought together to discuss exporting for our regions’ businesses in a focus group.

Participants included UKTI’s International Trade Advisor Ian Howard, Sam Kirkby and Paul Gillespie of Paul&Sam, a Gateshead based design agency; Jason Knights, Managing Director of design giant, Blue Kangaroo; Dean Murray and Jean-Pierre Van Zyl, Senior Associates at Square One Law and Stephen Slater, Director at RMT Accountants.

Rob Earnshaw, founder of Creative North, said: “Partnering with UKTI, Square One Law and RMT Accountants is something we are really excited about.

“The North East remains the only region with a consistent positive balance of more exporting and importing and I want, with the help of our industry experts, to make the creative and digital sector a main contributor to this.

“Through this month’s activity and a strong relationship with our partners we can provide the region with the resource, the intelligence and the ‘know how’ on exporting.”

Findings from the tuesday 3 November session were as follows:

• We have an identity problem in the North - we don’t shout about the fantastic work we do here in the North;
• We are losing talent to London and the likes. Young people and graduates are training in the North and setting up businesses then moving to London;
• Our businesses are struggling to grow because we don’t have quality employees to take projects forward – getting the work isn’t necessarily the issue;
• Companies who export don’t even know they are exporting. Paul&Sam work with companies in the States and they didn’t know that was exporting;
• It’s frustrating we have the expertise and resource to support and businesses don’t know it’s there – how do we get our businesses to know what support is available.
• Investing in quality accountants and legal firms, although there is a cost attached to it, it will save businesses money in the long run. No one wants to be hit with unexpected bills because international regulations haven’t been adhered too;
• Working with international businesses is all about building the relationship. Businesses don’t like having a contract shoved in their face, build the relationship first and the rest will follow.
• The Creative and Digital Media sector is so active that professional services such as law firms and accountants have to adapt and move with the times.
• The question is - how do we find the clients overseas who are looking for work and how do we advertise ourselves to them.

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