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UK exporters remain upbeat about future

More than 75 per cent of surveyed British small and medium-sized businesses plan to export increased goods and services in 2011 to more markets, according to new research from UK Trade & Investment.

From Surviving to Thriving: Doing Business Overseas is based on a survey of more than 200 British companies, predominantly SMEs. Conducted by the Institute of Directors, the results offer fresh insights into future export potential.

Launching the research, Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk said: “Exports account for 60 per cent of UK productivity growth and provide genuine benefits for British SMEs. Research shows that firms which export increase their productivity by nearly 35 per cent in the first year alone, they achieve stronger financial performance and are 11 per cent more likely to stay in business.

“Put simply, exporting can be the difference between surviving and thriving for SMEs. While today’s new report is encouraging, just one in 25 British companies are exporting. I want to encourage more SMEs to get exporting, and so grow”.

Industry offers taste of Asia

Chief executives and senior directors are being invited to attend the next series of Doing Business in Asia: Meet the Experts events which will take place in early February in locations across the UK, including Edinburgh, the East of England and London. Offering on-theground briefings and Q&A sessions with British ambassadors, high commissioners and senior business people in 12 Asian markets, the events are organised by UK Trade & Investment and the RBS Group. The events, which provide drop-in clinics on areas such as legal issues and trade finance, as well as a networking lunch, are available at a special rate to members of the Asia Task Force partner organisations.

For more details and to register, visit www.businessinasia.co.uk

East London set for tech

Prime Minister David Cameron has set out the Government’s ambition for London’s East End to be transformed into a world-leading hi-tech hub to rival Silicon Valley. Leading firms such as Vodafone, Google, Facebook and Intel have already responded positively to the vision. Addressing an audience of business leaders and entrepreneurs in Brick Lane, the Prime Minister said: “Our ambition is to bring together the creativity and energy of Shoreditch and the incredible possibilities of the Olympic Park to help make East London one of the world’s greatest technology centres.”

UKTI named ‘best in class’

UK Trade & Investment has been named as the Best Trade Promotion Organisation at the International Trade Centre’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) Network Awards 2010, held in Mexico City on 13-15 October. UK Trade & Investment was shortlisted alongside Australia and Hungary for the title.

The awards recognise excellence in developing export initiatives, and UK Trade & Investment’s Gateway to Global Growth programme was cited as the reason for its nomination.

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