Would-be exporters invited on UKTI new-year trade missions

The short trips, which are part of UKTI’s First-Time Exporters package of support, are open to small and medium-sized businesses with little or no international trading experience that are not already selling to the markets they are visiting and want to target.

The mission to Lisbon and Madrid runs from January 18 to 20, 2016 and the one to The Hague for firms wanting to export to Benelux countries is between February 16 and 18.

One company that has already benefited from the Export Insight Visit programme is Saxton Partners, a Harrogate-based firm of international executive coaching experts.

Founder Sonia Saxton said: “We went to Spain and Portugal with UKTI last year and as a result were asked by the Marriott hotel chain to run a workshop on attracting more Russians and Indians to Lisbon.

They thought they would get about 20 people turning up, but when we arrived there were 90. It went down extremely well, and we now have a very strong relationship with Marriott.”

The Export Insight Visit programme offers SMEs an introduction to UKTI services, practical information on approaching markets, introductions to successful British companies already in the market, one-to-one meetings with its trade officers and tailored networking opportunities.

Ms Saxton said: “The team at UKTI are amazing – you couldn’t have better support. If you’re thinking of going, do it. You’ll never know what could happen uunless you test it.”

The programme forms a key part of the Government’s wider Exporting is GREAT campaign to inspire another 100,000 businesses to export by 2020.

Mark Robson, UKTI regional director for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “The Export Insight Visits have proved to be a great way for first time exporters to open the door to potentially lucrative markets overseas for their goods and services.

“As we strive to hit the Government’s target of getting 100,000 more businesses nationwide to export in the next five years we would urge those considering international trade to reach out to new markets and customers overseas.”