West Midlands companies are to benefit from a unique new five year campaign that will present real-time export opportunities businesses can apply for instantly, in a move to get 100,000 additional companies exporting by 2020.
Exporting is GREAT – part of the world-renowned GREAT campaign – is the government’s most ambitious export campaign to date. For the first time, it will present real-time export opportunities across media outlets and digital channels to businesses – of all sizes, from across sectors and every region of the UK – that they can apply for immediately. The platform has gone live with hundreds of business opportunities available at www.exportingisgreat.gov.uk. Around 1000 more will come online each month.
Spearheaded by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the campaign will provide advice and expertise to support businesses at every step on their exporting journey, from initial interest to selling in-market.
This includes a year-long Exporting is GREAT roadshow that will travel the length and breadth of the country giving face-to-face assistance to first-time exporters using the latest technology to connect businesses with live export opportunities. Coinciding with the launch, a series of events were held across the UK as part of last month’s Export Week.
Last month, the UKTI Export truck made four stops in the West Midlands including LG Harris in Bromsgrove on 17 November, each offering local first time exporters the chance to drop in and receive initial advice and support from UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) experts and speak to businesses that already enjoy success overseas.
The truck also allowed companies to talk to multiple advisers from across the Business Growth Service, including international trade but also finance, and intellectual property, as well as Chambers of Commerce who provide documentation advice, and private sector organisations who can support with queries on a wide range of issues such as banking and translation.
Christine Hamilton, acting regional director of UKTI West Midlands, said: “As the world becomes ever more globalised and digital, the potential for businesses of all sizes to reach out to new customers and lucrative new markets beyond the UK has never been greater. UKTI will continue to work with customers across the West Midlands region, including through Exporting is GREAT, to realise this potential.”
For further information on the export events available to your business, visit the UKTI website or business opportunities available at www.exportingisgreat.gov.uk.