North East companies urged to take advantage of export opportunities

Businesses in the North East are being urged to take full advantage of opportunities for international trade.

Newcastle-headquartered law firm Ward Hadaway, the company behind the call, has worked closely with the Department for International Trade (DIT) over the last 12 months to help Durham SMEs forge links overseas.

DIT North East has developed North East Worldwide, a project aimed at providing enhanced trade assistance for companies in the region.

The programme gives businesses in the North East LEP area access to tailored advice on starting or developing their export offering.

Matthew Cormack, partner in commercial team at Ward Hadaway, said: “We were appointed by tender to deliver an export growth project with DIT in the final quarter of 2017.

“Since then, we have provided workshops, interactive seminars and legal advice on topics such as creating distribution and agency networks overseas and international exploitation of intellectual property.”

North East businesses benefiting from an increased focus on exports include Gateshead creative agency Blue Kangaroo, Chester le Street furniture company Ambic Limited and Durham-based equestrian clothing supplier Aztec Diamond.

Jason Knights, managing director of Blue Kangaroo, commented: “Ward Hadaway has been instrumental in helping us with the negotiation of international contracts over a number of months and it is thanks to the support of Matthew Cormack and the commercial team that we are now increasing our international reach.”

Through its partnership with the DIT, Ward Hadaway provides up to 12 hours of fully funded legal advice on export-related issues.

David Coppock, the DIT’s head of regions for the North East, said: “Although we know exporting can be highly lucrative and help firms boost their resilience, the process isn’t without its challenges.

“There are experts are on hand to help companies tackle everything from finding customers in new markets, to language and logistics.”