Member Article

North East businesses support National Export Week

North East businesses are lending their support to a national initiative to promote UK exports.

National Export Week, an initiative by the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), runs throughout this week.

Paul Ruddick founded D-Line in 2006, manufacturing products which offer home owners an aesthetically pleasing way of hiding cables and wires, without channelling walls. Based in Seaton Delaval, the company is now on target to turnover more than £3 million, more than £1 million of which is from exporting to more than 15 foreign markets.

Paul said: “Our products are universal, so their success in the UK market, where we are strongly supported by retailers such as B&Q, gave us confidence to take them to other countries. With assistance from organisations such as UKTI we have successfully achieved this. Exporting is a fantastic way for companies such as D-Line to grow, opening up new markets in which our business offering can be replicated.”

Geoff Turnbull, is Chairman of environmental engineering specialists, GT Group, which earlier this year was ranked 74th in the Sunday Times International Track 200. In the listing, GT notched up an impressive average international sales growth of 61.9 percent with exports accounting for £14.7 million of its £26 million turnover in the year ending 2011. Its turnover has risen to £34m in 2012/13 with exports accounting for 80 percent.

Mr Turnbull said: “Overseas sales success is the industrial life blood of the North East, where many companies are attracting substantial amounts of business from abroad. Our global reach – we export to more than 60 countries – is a reflection of the reputation that GT Group has earned for its product design and manufacture including its innovative engine emissions control systems.”

Alastair Thomson, Chairman of the Institute of Directors in the Tees Valley said: “The North East has some excellent examples of exporting success among the many great businesses which are based here, many of which have started from a simple idea and developed into significant employers and household names. However, support when entering new markets is essential and this initiative by UKTI and the BCC is to be welcomed.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Recognition PR Business Team .