Member Article

UKTI award North East company with export funding

Wallsend based company Tyne Gangway are celebrating the award of a £9,000 grant from UKTI to increase its exporting.

The manufacturers of high quality gangways and passenger access systems for the marine industry applied for the grant following the UKTI Virtual Export Manager scheme.

VEM aims to provide companies with secure guidance in developing an export strategy by connecting them with qualified export professionals.

Managing directors Graeme Robson, and Ken McDonald, applied for the grant in order to bolster the company’s international reputation for excellence.

Mr McDonald said: “This is fantastic news for Tyne Gangway. We’re committed to growing the already strong reputation we have internationally and this grant equips us with the funding we need to build an effective export strategy and lay the foundations for sustained future growth in the global marketplace.

“We’re keen to seize this opportunity to build international partnerships and roll out the comprehensive service we offer at Tyne Gangway on a worldwide scale.”

Bill Oliver, International Trade Adviser for UKTI, added: “Whatever stage a company is at in developing its export potential, there will be a way that we at UKTI can assist them, and I hope Tyne Gangway’s initiative will inspire other firms to contact us to find out how we can help them grow globally.

“While the rise of China is easy to acknowledge, businesses constantly need to keep up with the speed and depth of change and development in this large and complex market.

“As an experienced exporter, Tyne Gangway took advantage of the tailor-made support that G3 offers to identify and make the most of the opportunities in China.”

With the UK’s trade deficit at its highest level since 2005, the government is keen to encourage export activity to kick-start growth in this area.

Stefan Lepkowski of Karol Marketing Group, who provided Tyne Gangway with advice and guidance on the VEM application process, said: “The VEM scheme is excellent as it not only gives companies the funding they need to kick-start export activity, but also provides built-in expert advice on how to implement the programme.

“What many people don’t realise is that the VEM grant is available in conjunction with or in addition to other grants currently on offer from UKTI.

“I would strongly urge companies to contact their regional Trade Adviser to find out what opportunities may be open to them and also to clarify the timescale for making an application.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .