Leeds City Region SMEs to receive export boost from newly launched business community initiative

Leeds City Region businesses are set to benefit from a new regional initiative aimed at boosting international trade.

Announced on Friday (June 30th) in Leeds, ExportExchange is an online and offline network which aims to help businesses increase export sales, grow revenues and create employment.

The ExportExchange programme is backed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and delivered by the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the Department for International Trade (DIT), and a number of private sector media, marketing and export specialists.

The initiative was launched by Roger Marsh OBE, chair of the LEP, and Marian Sudbury, director of the Northern Powerhouse for DIT, at AQL’s Salem Chapel building in the Holbeck area of the city.

Marsh said: “The need for businesses to seek more diversified global growth has never been greater. A recent HMRC report found that in the year to March 2017, Yorkshire and the Humber saw a 7.6% increase in the value of exports, so we know the ability to achieve this exists.

“We challenged the business community to mobilise expertise within the region to help a new generation of would-be exporters and, with the collaboration of over 50 new patrons from some of the region’s most successful exporters, we’ve built a unique support network that is 100% free to use.”

Under the ExportExchange programme, the patrons, who are all experienced exporters and business leaders from across the Leeds City Region, will share their expertise on every aspect of exporting and growth with SME exporters. Peer-to-peer advice and mentoring will also be on offer for businesses that are looking for help with trading overseas.

Victoria Boldison, network manager for the initiative, commented: “Dozens of firms across Leeds, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Barnsley and York have already come to us and signed up online and forwarded specific enquiries during our testing and recruitment process, and we are now opening the ExportExchange network to registrations from any business in the region.

“It takes just a couple of minutes to register and fire in a question or enquiry with a couple of clicks, it really is that simple.”

A series of quarterly events is planned as part of ExportExchange to bring experienced and would-be exporters together, to inform on key issues and to provide interaction between patrons and businesses. The events are also designed to help businesses navigate the range of overseas trade resources available regionally.

Victoria Hopkins, one of the 50 ExportExchange founding patrons and managing director at Pudsey-based catering equipment manufacturer Hopkins Catering, was among the first patrons to sign up to the scheme.

She added: “We have learned so many lessons in our experience with overseas joint ventures and trade deals that I wish I had known before we started exporting. If we can share these experiences and help other local employers to be successful faster, then that has to be a good thing, and we are more than willing to help.

“We also see the benefit for our own business too: it is always good to know other exporters locally, and you can never have enough expertise in overseas trade.”

Marsh concluded: “Leeds City Region’s economic success depends on the growth of our business sector. That much-needed growth could come from selling more overseas, creating a positive impact for local businesses and the wider UK economy.

“ExportExchange is one more way we can help the people who run businesses, and we look forward to building a supportive and lively community.”