INTERVIEW

“NOBODY THINKS AIRBUS, FOR EXAMPLE, IS BRITISH, BUT 50 PER CENT OF MOST AIRBUSES ARE PRODUCED IN BRISTOL AND NORTH WALES”

most Airbuses are produced in Bristol and North Wales. We also have powerful and brilliant defence companies like BAE Systems.”

Outside of engineering and

manufacturing, Nick says the UK can also look for a continually strong contribution from its traditionally buoyant industries such as fi nancial services and education and skills, and fast-growing sectors such as life sciences. Global professional services fi rms, such as accountants, are also expected to continue making their mark. “They are precisely what are required by middle classes in emerging markets and we have absolute comparative advantage in those areas,” he states.

GROWTH TARGET

Raising the number of small and medium- sized companies who export represents one of Nick’s biggest challenges. The target, echoed by the CBI, is to move from one in fi ve to one in four SMEs exporting. “If we achieve that, we will wipe out our trade defi cit and create thousands of new jobs,” he claims. Clearly this prize is worth fi ghting for, but the problem is that Europe, the traditional route to export for most SMEs, is currently beset by the Eurozone sovereign debt crisis. Nevertheless, Nick remains optimistic. “Europe is not monolithic,” he states.

“There remain parts of Europe that are strong and will remain strong, such as Germany. There are also a number of non-Eurozone countries that have strong economies, especially in northern Europe, that I would very much encourage SMEs to engage with.”

Nick suggests UK SMEs should also consider economically strong,

18 | springboard | www.ukti.gov.uk

‘straightforward’ markets such as Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. For economies that are tougher to penetrate, UK Trade & Investment, with support from the Foreign Offi ce, is asking big inward investors to help SMEs in their supply chain to engage with those markets. It will also be leading major trade missions into such markets over the course of the year. To promote understanding of its export services, UK Trade & Investment is asking banks, accountants and law fi rms to make their SME clients aware of what’s on offer. That guidance should also include details on services outside UK Trade & Investment’s remit, such as fi nance, insurance and guarantee products provided by UK Export Finance. The role of chambers of commerce and trade organisations will also become increasingly important in developing the global ambitions of UK SMEs.

In overseas markets, Nick says that

UK Trade & Investment is looking at new ways of strengthening its ability to provide support to companies. “In China, for example, we work with the China-Britain Business Council to provide the same service as UK Trade & Investment in cities where we don’t have a presence,” he explains. According to Nick, one of the

programmes that UK Trade & Investment is looking to develop further is the Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS), which offers a range of tailored advice and support options aimed at growing a client base in a particular market. UK Trade & Investment is also continually addressing the potential for businesses to help themselves. “We have a big new project which will be run for us

THE SHORT STORY: NICK BAIRD

• 1983: Joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Offi ce

• 1986: First overseas posting to Kuwait

• 1989: Posting to EU Brussels on economic issues

• 1997: Posting to Muscat as deputy head of mission

• 1999: Posting to EU Brussels on justice and home affairs issues • 2006-2009: Ambassador to Turkey

• 2009: Director General, Europe and Global Economic Issues and Member of the Foreign and Commonwealth Offi ce Board

• September 2011: Appointed chief executive of UK Trade & Investment

by Yell,” he explains. “Essentially, it will be a web service with clear marketing of the availability of export support services from UK Trade & Investment and others. It will also be an opportunity for peer-to- peer networking where new-to-export companies can talk with experienced exporters about the challenges and opportunities of exporting to some of the world’s more complex markets.” Another big project being put forward is getting large companies to think about how they can encourage, mentor and support SMEs in their supply chain in their exporting endeavours. “Sometimes it can be on the back of a project they themselves are leading,” says Nick. “Sometimes it will simply be about mentoring SMEs on the basis of the experience that they have, introducing them to relevant contacts. I feel a very strong sense of national challenge and national co-operation out there. Companies believe we are in a really critical phase economically and we have to pull together to support each other.”

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