More than 370 businesses visit Exporting is GREAT Week in Yorkshire & the Humber

More than 370 businesses, including first-time exporters, attended events and webinars for Yorkshire and the Humber businesses to mark Exporting is GREAT Week.

The full week of activity staged by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) Yorkshire and the Humber from 18th to 22nd April, promoted the Government’s Exporting is GREAT initiative, aimed to encourage and support 100,000 additional UK exporters to sell their goods and services overseas by 2020.

Launched in November 2015, Exporting is GREAT partners with UK businesses to support companies during the exporting process – from identifying opportunities to winning contracts overseas.

The events included four in Leeds, Grimsby, Hull and Rotherham entitled ‘Breaking Barriers: Succeed Overseas’ to help first-time exporters identify and break barriers to trading abroad and addressed by exporting businesses and a ‘Business Growth Clinic on International Trade’ at York Science Park.

The event at The Queen’s Hotel, Leeds attracted 75 attendees including nine new to UKTI to hear a speech by Verity Britton, founder and director of Baa Ram Ewe, the Leeds-based producer of luxury hand knitted yarns made entirely from Yorkshire wool.

Verity founded Baa Ram Ewe seven years ago and after receiving expert knowledge and tailored advice from international trade advisors at UKTI Yorkshire and the Humber, she now sells her luxurious and authentic wools in 12 countries via 120 stockists including 80 in the main markets of North America and Canada.

She also has plans to expand her product range and open Baa Ram Ewe concessions in upmarket department stores both in the UK and overseas.

65 attendees, including seven exporters new to UKTI, were at the Advanced Technology Centre, Advanced Manufacturing Park, Brunel Way, Rotherham to hear a speech by Sheffield-based Pricecheck Toiletries, the family business that supplies branded consumer goods throughout the UK and worldwide including for leading international brands.

Also in attendance was a 19-strong delegation of businesses from Indonesia organised by UKTI partner organisation, South Yorkshire International Trade Centre (SYITC).

In total, there were 374 attendees at the range of events and webinars including 51 representatives of first-time exporters new to UKTI. Also in attendance were 192 representatives of partner organisations of UKTI Yorkshire and the Humber.

Mark Robson, regional director for UK Trade & Investment Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “We encourage all UK businesses looking to grow overseas to visit www.exportingisgreat.gov.uk to find the next opportunity to take their business global.

“Exporting is GREAT Week was an outstanding success by allowing businesses to learn more about international trade opportunities, and the support available to help them fulfil their exporting ambitions. Whether a newcomer or an existing exporter looking to expand, the Week offered something for everyone.

“Exporting helps companies to grow, and taking those initial steps to find out more can prove invaluable. UKTI and our partners in Yorkshire and the Humber are determined to help local companies succeed in the global race. We’re already working with thousands of companies across the region to do just that – and we want to help a great many more.”