Member Article

Businesses urged to make 2014 the year to start trading overseas

Businesses in the UK are being urged to make 2014 the year they start trading overseas, with the latest GDP figures revealing strong growth in the economy.

Managing director of Telford-based Global Freight, Nicole Howarth, said the revival of the UK economy made this year the perfect time for companies to target new markets overseas.

Mrs Howarth is an international trade expert whose company works with businesses of all sizes, from first-time exporters to established businesses with complex two-way trade programmes.

She said: “After 18 years in this industry, I’ve helped hundreds of companies take their first step into international trade, many of those companies are still our clients, and most of them now have well developed markets abroad.

“But there is no doubt that recent tough economic times have made some companies think twice about venturing into unknown markets overseas, choosing to focus instead on a domestic market, albeit a contracting one.

“However, the green shoots which we have all seen in our economy mean that 2014 will be the right time to consider whether business growth will be better served by expanding trade beyond these shores.”

Mrs Howarth recently returned from South Africa where she met with leaders of other global logistics businesses and she said the optimism for increased international trade was not confined to the UK.

“We’ve seen a growing trend, both through our work with regional and national companies, of increasing trade with the Chinese, South American and South African markets. It was fantastic to meet so many businesses in Cape Town which also had seen this trend, particularly in relation to trade with the established market of China.”

The independent freight forwarder has established an international reputation for excellent customer service coupled with quality advice and guidance for companies trading abroad.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Global Freight .