Member Article

UKTI encouraged by North East's 'consistent positive trade balance'

A small decrease in year on year exports in the region should not discourage the North East business community, believes David Coppock, UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) Regional Director.

According to the latest quarterly export figures released by HMRC for September to December 2015, the North East is actually the only UK region with a consistent positive trade balance.

Results show the value of exports from NE England, in the 12 months to the end of Q4 2015, was £12.141bn compared to the previous rolling 12-month period at £12.475bn.

David Coppock said: “Despite this small drop in exports I remain encouraged by the high value of exports to our top markets and the continued strength in sectors such as Medicine and pharmaceuticals.

“We know that there are potentially many more North East businesses who with a little help could start their own exciting and rewarding export journeys and I would urge them to get in touch with us to see how we can help.”

The Netherlands retains its top spot as the largest single market for NE goods with a 12-month export value of £1.655bn (at Q4 2015) a small fall of 1.34% compared to the previous year.

North East export values for 11 of the region’s top 20 markets grew over the past 12 months with those top 20 markets representing 83.2% of all annual exports from the region.

A group of North East prestigious hotels - Seaham Hall, Rockliffe Hall, Matfen Hall and Lumley Castle - are working with UK Trade and Investment to represent the North East and provide American travellers with a rounded picture of luxury stays available here in the North East.

The next steps in their journey is a visit from a US tourism delegation who are to be hosted at Matfen Hall on Mother’s Day, Sunday 6 March following a two-day Explore GB conference in Liverpool 3-4 March.

Sue Beverley, UK Trade and Investment International Trade Adviser, said: “We are delighted to welcome this group to the North East, the Luxury Hotels of North East England and UKTI have worked hard together to raise their profile in the American market and this visit is the culmination of all those efforts. It is an exciting time for the region and UKTI ‘s export assistance has played a vital part in helping the hotel’s increase their overseas business”

Sarah Barber, Sales and Marketing Director of Matfen Hall Hotel, said: “Our group of four hotels offers American tourists something a little bit out of the ordinary.

“Whilst each of the properties are different, we all offer a quirky English charm with a sense of history and romance that our American visitors really love. This, together with the highest standards of customer care will help us in securing more American visitors to the region in future.”