Newcastle’s ethnic minority entrepreneurs invited to access support and funding

North East export specialists are reaching out to the region’s ethnic minority business owners to help unlock routes into overseas markets.

The Department for International Trade North East (DIT) is inviting ethnic minority business bosses to an “Export For Business Growth Workshop”, showcasing support services and funding available to help them scale and grow their businesses through exports.

International trade advisors created the workshop for both beginners dipping a toe into foreign markets and more experienced exporters, hoping to grow and explore new countries.

Head of delivery for the North East Export Team, Julie Underwood, commented: “DIT has a track record of successfully supporting companies. We are constantly expanding services and outreach to specific business communities with huge potential for growth.

“Ethnic minority entrepreneurs are major contributors to the UK economy, generating £25bn annually. We want to ensure they receive the support needed to reach lucrative overseas markets.

“This event marks the launch of our “Diaspora Global Festival” programme, which recognises and supports ethnic minority business owners, helping open opportunities for scaling up business growth through exporting. We have focused on “festival” as we also want to celebrate the knowledge and insight this programme can help unlock.”

Consultation in the North East by an All-Party Parliamentary Party for Ethnic Minority Business Owners discovered key barriers to business support services in the region.

These included cultural and language issues; a lack of proficiency in digital skills; mistrust due to lack of diversity amongst personnel providing support; lack of awareness; and the overwhelming volume and range of information about service options available.

The Diaspora Global Campaign aims to mobilise interest and engagement among business communities, encouraging ethnic minority businesses (EMBs) to leverage connections and build strategies to increase international trading activity.

Alongside this, a ‘Pathway Programme’ will be introduced to address underrepresentation of ethnic minority business owners as DIT service users. The programme looks to reduce barriers and open access to support by offering tailored and accessible ‘pathways’ to improve the reach, engagement, and accessibility of DIT’s business support services.

The workshop, on November 30 at Barclays Digital Eagles Lab in Tuspark, Newcastle, will inform firms about the range of export support services and funding, with the ambition of helping owners and export managers develop to build their knowledge, skill, and confidence.

By Matthew Neville – Correspondent, Bdaily

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