Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire businesses help boost regional overseas trade

More Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire firms are helping to increase overseas trade regionally and expand their business operations as a result.

Export statistics issued by HMRC this month show that the West Midlands continues to be the top region for overseas growth, having the highest year-on-year percentage increase in exports in England.  Annual exports are up from 23.3 billion to 27.8 billion, which is a 19.2 per cent increase compared to the last year’s figures.

The LEP is urging more businesses to export and get the expert backing they need to do so. Export advice events, run by the county council with UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and supported by local MPs, have been attended by hundreds of companies. Nearly 30 businesses attended the latest event in Leek last week, hosted by Karen Bradley MP and sponsored by Lloyds Bank.

Exporting can provide an invaluable platform for raising the profile of Staffordshire-based businesses and the subsequent growth in new overseas markets.

Frances Bromley from Leek art and design studio Scabetti spoke of her exporting journey and the opportunities that working with UKTI have brought to her business: “I consider UKTI as an integral part of our team; being able to provide essential support while we focus on our rapidly expanding international offering. The trade show assistance results in invaluable networking and PR opportunities and enables us to personally present our products to overseas markets.”

The Scabetti studio specialises in the production and installation of statement piece sculptures and built up a reputable portfolio of commissions in corporate headquarters, hotels, shopping centres and restaurants across the globe. The company commissioned to provide a centrepiece in the Land Forces Command HQ boardroom in the Netherlands (as pictured) and have its work displayed in other countries including France, USA and across Asia as well as on cruise liners.  Its work is also showcased in prestigious UK locations such as Jill and Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant in Padstow, Cornwall.

Karen Bradley MP reiterated the importance of promoting the British brand to overseas markets and encouraged others to participate in exporting their goods and services abroad. She said: ‘‘We have many creative, innovative and impressive businesses in the Staffordshire Moorlands like Scabetti who manufacture their products in the UK. Exporting these products not only reinforces the British brand but also helps to increase our sales to international markets.’’

UKTI presented a taster of the range of support and advice they can provide to businesses wishing to start or enhance the amount of exporting they currently undertake and were on hand to provide more detailed support on a one-to-one basis.

Robert Lawley, Head of International Trade, for UKTI Staffordshire said:

“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.”

Anyone wanting support with their exporting plans or ideas can contact business@staffordshire.gov.uk  where they will be put in touch with a dedicated UKTI International Trade Advisor.