Taking West Midlands Business to the World

 
Event date: 3 March 2010
Event location: Hilton Metropole, NEC, Birmingham
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This event is now fully booked.

 
About the event

Trade Minister Lord Davies of Abersoch recently said “I want to encourage companies new to overseas business to take the first steps to exporting, and I will do all I can to support firms already working abroad.” And, “Exporting makes firms more resilient, innovative and competitive. It is sometimes daunting to take the first steps …”

As UK Trade and Investment Regional Director it is my role to assist West Midlands Small and Medium Enterprises to actively partake and succeed in Global Markets; both those who are taking their first exporting steps and also those who are more experienced. And for companies who are new to UK Trade and Investment, we are the Government’s international business development organisation.

There is now more support than ever before to help West Midlands companies reach global markets and be a success

70 per cent of UKTI’s clients report significant business benefits from using UKTI support.

More than 3,000 companies increased R&D activity in the UK as a result of UKTI support in 2008-09. The world out there is competitive, dynamic and increasingly complex, however there are customers all over the world that want the high quality products and services that West Midlands companies can provide. Indeed within the West Midlands there are already thousands of SME’s who have successfully sold into overseas markets. These companies have seen exporting as dynamic step forward – increasing sales and profit; they are also the type of companies who see the emerging markets like Brazil, India and China not  as a threat, but as an opportunity.

I believe this seminar is an ideal opportunity to see what type of support is available and listen to those that have done it – including a panel of already successfully exporting SME’s. As well as exporting, we will also be looking at the importance of innovation and how it can increase a company’s international competitiveness – both in products and market development.

And as received wisdom states those that export are more innovative and productive … here is your chance to start or to look at the steps for expansion.

Doug Mahoney, International Trade Director for the West Midlands, UK Trade and Investment