Member Article

Search is on for North East's export heroes

The search is on for the North East’s heroes of export and companies across the region are being urged to act fast to submit their entries for the prestigious North East Exporters’ Awards.

The annual awards ceremony and dinner recognises the achievements of the region’s top export champions whose efforts are making a huge contribution to both the regional and UK economies.

Now in their eighteenth year, the awards are sponsored by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) and HSBC.

Companies have until 10 April to submit their entries and the winners will be announced at a special awards dinner, which will take place on Thursday, 16 May at Sunderland’ s Stadium of Light.

David Coppock, UKTI Regional Director for the North East, said: “The achievements of our export heroes should not be underestimated - their efforts have helped the North East reap the rewards of going global. In the last 12 months, up to the end of December 2012, a total of £13.69 billion worth of goods and services were exported from the North East around the globe.

“And we’re hoping that by highlighting their success at the annual North East Exporters’ Awards we can encourage others to take up the export for growth challenge.”

James Ramsbotham, NECC Chief Executive, added: “The North East continues to perform admirably in terms of exports and remains the only English region with a positive balance of trade in exports.

“That is why the NECC is once again working with our regional partners such as UKTI and HSBC to host these awards and we would urge any company that feels worthy of being named one of the North East’s best export businesses to send in its nomination.”

Pat Dellow, Area Commercial Director at HSBC said: “International trade is at the heart of HSBC – as a bank formed to facilitate international trade between Hong Kong and the rest of the world is it built into our heritage and forms a key part of our efforts today.

“HSBC helped numerous North East companies grow their international business during 2012 and we’re delighted to once again support the North East Exporters’ Awards to recognise the efforts of forward-thinking individuals and companies that boost the region’s economy by taking their products all over the world.”

The categories for this year’s awards are:

SME Exporter Award: sponsored by UK Trade & Investment - A business with turnover of up to £25m that has demonstrated exceptional achievement in export.

High Growth Exporter Award: sponsored by UK Trade & Investment - A business that can demonstrate significant export success in high growth markets.

Export Team of the Year: A team working in export who can demonstrate significant added value to their business through adopting innovative techniques, personnel development, and successful implementation of the companies’ export sales strategy.

Large Exporter Award: A business with turnover in excess of £25m that has demonstrated exceptional achievement in export.

North East Business Awards Exporter of the Year: The overall winner, chosen from the heat winners of the North East Business Awards.

Overall Exporter of the Year Award sponsored by HSBC: The overall winner, chosen from the winners of the above awards and other Export Award winners in the region.

The overall winner of each award will be presented with a cheque to the value of £1,000. To find out more and to access the online application form log onto: www.northeastexportersawards.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by UKTI North East .