ABOUT UK TRADE & INVESTMENT
Do you want your business to grow internationally?
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is here to help. We’ve got the answers.
Perhaps you’ve had some experience with international trade before. Or maybe it’s completely new territory for you and your business. Whatever your position, UKTI has the experience and expertise to help companies from the South West answer a whole host of questions about international business, including:
> How do we start exporting?
> What are the most promising markets for our products and services?
> What foreign standards and regulations do we have to comply with?
> How do we find partners, distributors and agents?
…and most importantly, how can we make this a success?
Helping your business really go places
Around 5,700 companies in the South West exported goods in 2006, representing about 7% of UK exporters. The region is showing strong growth in numbers of exporters; a 24% increase from 2001 to 2006, compared to 15% for the United Kingdom.
As well as vital information and advice, UKTI can offer a range of practical support and services to help turn your international ambitions into reality. We offer a wide range of training workshops on subjects key to successful international trade, including internet strategy and international presentation skills.
We can help with detailed and relevant market information. We can also arrange overseas visits – to give you first-hand experience of your new markets, and put you in touch with businesses with similar international aspirations.
“At the Nuremberg Toy Fair we were inundated with enquiries from potential distributors. UKTI helped me filter all the enquires and we signed up eight distributors from countries including South Korea, New Zealand and Spain.” Rob Laweight, Director Bristol-based Trunki, which makes innovative children’s wheelalong suitcases, used UKTI’s Passport service.
“Through Passport, we have been able to visit the US and raise our profile there. We now have several clients in this key market, including the Department of Defence and various state agencies responsible for flood response. UKTI has given us expert advice on exporting and has really helped us to focus on where and how we needed to target our product, and it is really starting to pay off.” Linda Beveridge, joint owner of ProEarth Developments, which develops and sells the SandHopper, a device for filling sandbags quickly and easily, joined UKTI’s Passport scheme to help them break into overseas markets, including the United States.”
Succeeding in international trade is all about making the right connections. Which is why we’ll link you up with our experts based in embassies and consulates around the world, as well as our support staff here in the South West. You’ll get a dedicated International Trade Adviser who’ll offer you ongoing support and help you develop an action plan for targeting overseas markets.
Breaking into overseas markets can be one of the most exciting things a company ever does. UKTI can help make sure it’s a success.
To find out more, call the South West International Trade Team hotline on 0845 60 60 969, or email us at enquiries@uktisouthwest.org. You can also find out about UKTI at www.uktisouthwest.org
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