exp
anding markets
HOme and aWaY.
[COntinUed]
The Going Global event is not the only opportunity businesses
have to access support for exporting. Advice is available year-
round from UKTI, which offers support for new and established
exporters, with various initiatives to help businesses gain a
foothold in overseas markets.
Taking part in trade missions is one such initiative that provides
an effective way for companies to test markets and attract
customers. UKTI helps arrange for groups of UK companies to
take part in the British trade missions that visit overseas markets
each year. Visit: www.tradeyorkshire.co.uk.
One company making the most of this route is Bradford’s
Mumtaz. The well-known Kashmiri restaurant has branched
out over the last two years to supply high quality curry dishes
to 13 countries and Halal baby food to 31 countries, as well as
servicing 87 countries through its international website –
all from a standing start in January 2007.
“It all began with a colleague telling us we ought to be talking
to Yorkshire Forward and UKTI,” says commercial director
Bill Kimberling. “Since then we have been on a series of very
successful trade missions.
“At the end of November we were invited to meet secretary of
state David Milliband to talk about export and I told him that it can
be a very bumpy ride requiring time, money and co-ordination.
What businesses need is not bureaucrats but enthusiasts, not
people who talk but people who help us achieve our goals − we
have had that and it has translated our ideas into exports sales at over £10,000 go onto the system. We also organise one of
of £1 million.” the largest annual Meet the Buyer events in the country,
In addition to looking overseas, Yorkshire Forward is giving SMEs the chance to drop in, show us what they do
encouraging businesses to exploit new market opportunities in and get involved in workshops.
the UK, some of which are right on their doorstep. “When I set up the council’s procurement function in 2004 our
record in engaging with small companies and local companies
the region’s local authorities provide extensive opportunities. was poor. Now around 90 per cent of our suppliers are SMEs
Companies can bid for local authority contracts through – a third of them from within the Wakefield district.”
the supplier and Contract management system (sCms) – a
procurement website that can be found at www.scms.alito.co.uk another source of business expansion is www.supply2.gov.
uk set up by the department for Business, enterprise and
Among the local authorities subscribing to the site is City of regulatory reform (Berr), which is a similar portal for smes
Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, which is increasing its run nationally.
spend within the region. It has already moved from 40 per cent
in 2004 to 56 per cent in 2008, an increase worth a significant It gives suppliers lower-value public sector contracts
£80 million to the local economy. information free of charge for the local area of their choice.
The council’s service director for procurement and corporate More than 4,500 buyers from across the UK public sector have
IT, Alan Kirkham, says: “All our business opportunities valued registered with the service, with many more publishing their
contract opportunities on it each week.
“
it’s not too late for Yorkshire and Humber businesses to get
All our busines

s
a slice of the Olympics action either. the games will generate
opportunities vAlued At over
an estimated £21 billion nationally*.
£10,000 go onto the system.
Contracts to supply goods and services for the Olympics are
We Also orgAnise one of the
being posted at www.CompeteFor.com. Once registered,
companies can bid for any number of contracts before, during
“
lArgest AnnuAl meet the
and after the Games. Companies which need help to write their
buyer events in the country
health and safety policy or create a quality management system
(required when registering on the site) can get help from Business
Link Yorkshire: www.businesslink.gov.uk/yorkshire
infOrm JANUARY 2009 pAGE 10
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