Dozens of businesses have contacted Chamber International in the last two months seeking help with generating new sales overseas triggered by the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership’s export campaign.
More than 50 businesses have contacted the We Are International export network and the campaign’s Export Ambassadors since July seeking support with a wide range of issues from help with finding overseas agents and distributors to advice on international tenders and seeking contacts in specific markets.
Many senior figures in successful exporting businesses are also volunteering to become Export Ambassadors with two new well-known figures – managing director of of One Global, Leeds and senior partner at Leeds law firm, Shulmans taking the total to 30, with more announcements planned.
The We are International initiative – delivered by the LEP in partnership with international trade specialists Chamber International, UKTI Yorkshire and Humber, Enterprise Europe Network and MY Export Hub – aims to add £1.6bn to the City Region economy and create thousands of jobs during the next five years.
Now about 100 businesses are expected to attend the initiative’s third Export Network event this year being held in partnership with Yorkshire Bank, Leeds, at 7.30am on 12 November 2013. The event is part of a programme of activities being held to coincide with UKTI’s Export Week, and delegates will be able to network with like-minded businesses, meet export ambassadors and UKTI advisors.
After an introduction by Leeds-based sales and motivation speaker, Darren Kelly, author of best-selling guide, The World’s Greatest Sales Lesson, and a welcome by Yorkshire
Bank East Region director, Alan Young, delegates will hear ten top tips from three of the region’s top exporting firms including managing director of specialist hygiene chemicals supplier, The Proton Group, Normanton, Murray Angus; partner at exporting business Fitzpatrick Exports (UK) Ltd, Batley, Ernie Fitzpatrick and export sales manager with Leeds-based Optimum Medical Solutions, Leeds, Victoria Boldison.
Early signs are that the export network is working with 41 per cent of Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber exporting service companies seeing overseas sales improve in Q2 2013, while 37 per cent of Bradford Chamber exporters reported an increase in overseas sales.
Among export activity since the last export network event in July, is a Halifax brewing business seeking help with an export strategy, a birth control manufacturer seeking to register products in the Middle East and a moisturising gel manufacturing company seeking to sell in India.
LEP Board member and Chair of the Leeds City Region Trade and Investment Board, prof Bob Cryan, says: “Increasing the number of Leeds City Region companies trading overseas is a top priority for the LEP so we’re delighted with the level of interest that businesses have shown in the We are International initiative so far. We’ll be working with our partners, and our excellent Export Ambassadors, to build on this momentum and provide more business opportunities and support for companies seeking to export.”
To book please Tel: 0845 034 7200. For more information about the We are International campaign, visit www.weareinternational.co.uk
