Member Article

CBI and UKTI launches inaugural global growth event

THIS Wednesday will see the first CBI/UKTI Global Growth Event taking place at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art in a bid to inspire and encourage North East businesses to go global.

The conference will bring together market experts from CBI’s International offices, speakers from UKTI and UK Export Finance and experts in setting up overseas business entities and recruiting overseas staff.

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) from across the region will gain insight from four case Study speakers, who will share their exporting journey with the audience. Drawn from across the wider Northern region, they cover both product and service based businesses, dispelling the myth that exporting is only relevant to manufacturers.

Event speakers include Stephanie Tootill of Playdale Playgrounds, Raman Sehgal of ramarketing, John Haslam from G. F Smith Limited and Andrew Upton of Seaward Group.

Dianne Sharp, CBI regional director said: ’“We all acknowledge that the world has shrunk over the last two decades. The development of technology and communications has made global customers just a few mouse clicks or finger swipes away. However in an increasingly congested market place, how do businesses step on to the international stage and start to engage with these customers and opportunities? The purpose of the event is to give non-exporters and exporters alike access to knowledge skills and support in developing their exporting journey. We have a selection of presentations from various experts in aspects of international business and most importantly, case study presentations from businesses who have been there and are doing it and are keen to share their knowledge.”

Improving the UK’s trade performance is seen as central to the UK’s future prosperity and SMEs, including many from the North East, will have a critically important part to play in that process.

Brian Thorpe, Barclays head of corporate for the North East said: “Barclays is delighted to be partnering with the CBI to deliver expert knowledge on overseas trading and growing internationally. We are committed to helping businesses in the North to set up or expand their overseas operations, helping them to overcome barriers, such as acquiring local knowledge and guaranteeing payments in unfamiliar territories.”

Dianne added: “The UK economy needs to become more open to international opportunities with businesses moving beyond exporting to investing abroad. SMEs here in the region have significant potential to grow internationally by journeying from non-exporter to global business. The first step is building the knowledge and confidence to go abroad to overcome their knowledge gaps, SMEs that have the potential to export should engage with businesses experienced in the markets they wish to enter, and actively seek opportunities in these markets.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Richard Crulley .