Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire businesses can boost the economy through increased exports

Small and medium-sized businesses in Staffordshire can find out how increased exports could help them expand and boost jobs and growth locally at an event this month.

Staffordshire County Council, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and Karen Bradley MP are hosting an Export Support Event at Westwood Golf Club in Leek on Wednesday May 28 between 8am and 10am.

Building on the success of last year’s event, small businesses with no or limited experience of exporting and those wishing to increase their existing overseas trade, are being encouraged to attend and gain valuable support and advice from UKTI.  The event will focus on three areas – general export support, export support for the creative, food and drink sector and export support for the manufacturing sector, including chemicals.

With the backing of the county council, UKTI and Karen Bradley MP in addition to support from Lloyds Bank, the free breakfast event will provide opportunities to network, debate and seek expert guidance. It is part of a series of events being run by Staffordshire County Council and UKTI which have already helped to support over 100 small businesses.

Karen Bradley MP said “Last year I held a similar export support event and it was very successful, giving several businesses a chance to speak to specialist advisors and – just as importantly, to each other – about the obstacles they faced to exporting.
“The government is doing everything it can to encourage exports and I want to do my bit by helping businesses in Staffordshire Moorlands to get access to the right support.”

Robert Lawley, Head of International Trade for UKTI Staffordshire added: “Selling overseas can provide big opportunities for local companies and as part of the National Export Challenge our aim is to help create more exporters in the region than ever before. Nationally we are aiming to have an additional 100,000 businesses trading overseas by the end of the decade.  We want to provide an ideal opportunity for companies to find out more about the opportunities available to them and how exports can help their business grow. “We hope it will inspire companies to take up the export challenge.”

Further information can be found at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/exporting and interested businesses can book their place by emailing business@staffordshire.gov.uk