12 international
Queen’s Awards for Enterprise recognise export success
Entries are now closed for the annual Queen’s Awards and hopes will be high among the region’s exceptional exporters.
This year’s Queen’s Awards for Enterprise will be announced on April 21. International trade is one of the three award categories, along with innovation and sustainable development. Last year’s Awards proved successful for six businesses in the Thames Valley and Solent regions.
The winners were: Chelton of Marlow that produces aircraft antennas, communications equipment and systems and other related equipment. Moog Components of Reading, which makes electrical slip rings and motion control components, and Southampton- based Moog Insensys (Wind Energy Division) that produces measurement and analysis systems for the wind energy market. Naim Audio from Salisbury supplies hi fi audio and audio-video systems. Abingdon’s Penlon won its fourth Queen’s Award for its medical devices and Williams Performance Tenders of Berinsfield, Oxfordshire received its award for its success with its jet-powered ridged
inflatable tenders for the marine leisure market.
Who this year’s nominees are and which businesses will win these coveted awards are closely guarded secrets but the region has a huge variety of companies of all sizes that are successfully selling their products around the world.
For example, Communicarta, which has operations in High Wycombe and Southampton, is making a global name for itself in the field of digital transport map technology. The company has recently achieved success in producing a mobile application (app) for the Shanghai metro in China. “We have completely re-designed the Shanghai metro map,“ said Robin Woods, Communicarta’s CEO. “Our philosophy is about presenting our maps in a way that is clear and easy to follow. And now, with Communicarta’s Shanghai Metro apps available on iTunes, Nokia Ovistore and Blackberry Appworld, guests to Shanghai are in for a real treat. This is instant and effortless journey planning on a brand new level.“
Meanwhile Petersfield, Hampshire-based family-owned business Freenotes has recently shipped a £100,000 order to Australia. What does it do? Freenotes designs and sells handcrafted outdoor musical instruments, that are easy and fun to play.
Freenotes’ founder Robin Ashfield said: “Our instruments are unique. Musical flair or previous experience of playing an instrument are not necessary, because the tones are pure and soothing and there are no wrong notes – so it’s ideal for all ages and abilities. These are great for encouraging children, as well as people with special needs, to get involved in music.“
Both of these companies, and many others, have received assistance from government- funded export promotion initiatives delivered by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI). And the keys to their success have been that not only did they have innovative products for which there were overseas markets, but also they made the effort to explore those markets and to seize the assistance that was available to them.
The Queen’s Awards for 2011 will highlight some of the best of UK exports and the efforts that their producers have made to sell into overseas markets. This is right on message as far as the coalition’s drive for the country to export its way to better health. It will be hoping that the Awards will inspire other businesses up and down the country to sell their the products on the global stage.
Opportunity for companies investing in the Gulf
Finance South East and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) will be escorting six selected businesses to Dubai at an invitation-only showcase event in May.
The mission is aimed at businesses that are seeking investment and that are seriously considering the Gulf region in their international strategy plans.
Six carefully-selected companies will be accompanied on this mission to the Gulf region, to be showcased and introduced to investors and relevant business contacts. The mission will be escorted by one of UK Trade & Investment’s specialist trade advisers and staff from Finance South East. Some financial support towards the business travel costs will be available.
The three-day mission to Dubai takes place from May 24 to 26, and offers a unique combination of trade and investment opportunities to businesses on a growth path. It also raises the profile of the pipeline of opportunities coming from the UK, and is intended to catalyse the development of a strong and active investor network in the Gulf region.
At the heart of the mission, on Day 2, is a showcase event at which six businesses will present the highlights of their business growth plans and investment opportunity to a room of 30-40 specially-invited investors based in the Gulf region.
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The Showcase will be followed by a networking dinner with investors and other key local contacts.
Applications are invited from businesses which: • have an international strategy that clearly identifies the Gulf region as an important market; • are on a well defined growth path; • are seeking investment from £250,000 to £1 million to fund current business growth plans; • are financially able to make their contribution to the costs of this subsidised mission.
The applications will be screened and reviewed by FSE and UKTI in the first instance. Summary information on the shortlisted companies will be reviewed by the Gulf-based investor network developers who know the local markets and investors.
The aim will be to select a balanced portfolio of six propositions that are well matched to market opportunities in the region and which will best represent the projected pipeline of high-quality opportunities to introduce to the investor network. Dubai-based investors have already put funds into several FSE clients alongside the funds that FSE manages. The intention of this showcase is to amplify and extend the interest and active participation of Gulf-based investors in UK companies.
On Day 1 of the mission UKTI will have organised orientation briefings with relevant local commercial officers. There will also be time for one-to-one appointments with relevant contacts that will have been arranged in advance of the mission.
On Day 3 there will be the opportunity for follow- up meetings with potential investors and further appointments with relevant commercial officers or potential partners.
In addition the programme includes: • For eligible businesses, enrolment on the UKTI Passport to Export programme, which may include matched funded business development credits of up to £1,500, and a contribution of £450 towards the costs of the market visit; • Preparatory work with a UKTI trade adviser to assess market readiness, to discuss opportunities in the Gulf and to assist with commissioning in-market research to identify relevant contacts (a UKTI-subsidised service); • Coaching and preparation guidance from FSE staff to strengthen the presentation of the investment propositions.
Details:
www.financesoutheast.com
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – APRIL 2011
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