Member Article

Over 100 exporters set to attend We Are International Export event

Hidden funding streams to support exporting will be on the agenda at this year’s first We Are International Export Network event in Leeds next month, for businesses wanting to break into international sales.

More than 100 novice exporters are expected to attend the event where speakers from UKTI, Enterprise Europe Network and Yorkshire Innovation Fund will explore Grants, Funding and No-Charge Assistance for Exporters in an afternoon event at Deloitte, Leeds, on June 2.

The We are International initiative, delivered by the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership with support from international trade specialists Chamber International, UKTI Yorkshire and Humber, Enterprise Europe Network and MY Export Hub, aims to add £1.6 billion to the City Region economy and create thousands of jobs by 2018.

The latest Export Network event is the fourth since the initiative was launched in March 2013.

Since then more than 300 businesses have contacted the We Are International export network and the campaign’s Export Ambassadors seeking support with issues including setting up overseas offices, finding distributors and advice on logistics and several companies have secured their first overseas orders.

The Export Network of ambassadors from successful exporting businesses has now expanded to almost 40 with representation from companies in chemicals, architectural design, healthcare, textiles, flooring manufacturers, surgical instruments manufacturer, and business development volunteering to give unpaid mentoring to novice exporters.

More than 370 novice exporters, including some from outside Leeds City Region, have attended events.

LEP Board member, Lead export network ambassador and managing director of Radio Design, Shipley, Eric Hawthorn, says: “I am delighted that the Export Network continues to generate significant interest from SMEs wanting to break into exporting – and from successful exporters willing to give up their time to support them as Export Ambassadors.

“The We are International campaign is beginning to deliver real impact, with numerous businesses taking the first step towards trading overseas as a result of help from our Export Ambassadors and the Export Network events. There is strong appetite for exporting here, as shown by the region’s excellent export performance last year.

“We are determined to capitalise on this momentum, help more SMEs realise their products and services could have markets internationally, and ensure the Leeds City Region becomes a net exporter.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .