28/06/12

Gloucestershire LEP calls on firms to Export for Growth

Gloucestershire Local Enterprise Partnership is calling on businesses to export for growth

The LEP and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) want all businesses to look at their export options following the Exporting for Growth event on June 26, which was attended by around 50 businesses that wanted to discover possible export opportunities for their company.

The event at Lloyds TSB in Barnwood was run by the LEP’s Business Membership Group, which brings together more than 50 business membership organisations and UKTI.

Terry Morgan, chair of the LEP’s Business Membership Group, said:

“Export is vital for creating jobs and improving the Gloucestershire economy and the LEP will continue to highlight our export success stories from across the county. 

 “But the Business Membership Group still wants a lot more businesses to come forward that could become successful exporters given some individually tailored advice and support. There is already a lot of funding support available and, as the event proved, many local experienced exporters are very willing to offer advice and encouragement so nothing should be holding them back.”

Businesses heard from speakers from Barclays, UKTI and Gloucestershire LEP, which is driven by economic development company GFirst, at the event. As well as a business case study from Colin Hygate of Green Fuels.

It was open to businesses that already export and those that don’t. One business that doesn’t currently export is Glevum Security which is based in Quedgeley, but Managing Director Steve Barnett said they may do in the future.

He said:

“For us it is about finding more information on how to go about exporting. When it is the right time for us then we would export. The event has really shown me the best way to go about it and who to contact.”

Qing Lin from Join in China, which supports UK small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to export in the Chinese market, said:

“The event was absolutely wonderful and very useful. I am pleased to see Gloucestershire is very keen to export, especially the SMEs. My opinion is that if you don’t export now you will never do it so this is sort of event is vital.”

For more information about Gloucestershire Local Enterprise Partnership and its work on export visit the Business Membership Group section at www.gloslep.co.uk.

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