INTERNATIONAL TRADE


Stamp of approval for Passport to Export


BY FRED BROMWICH T


ravel abroad and you wouldn’t go without your passport. Just as important to the business traveller


is UK Trade & Investment’s Passport to Export – a programme that can help unlock major new opportunities within the overseas sales marketplace. Last year, 50 Birmingham and Solihull


companies signed up for the programme and, according to Mark Sankey, who heads up the UKTI team in Birmingham, at least a similar number will have joined by the end of 2015.


‘Companies can kick-start their plans by gaining an understanding of the basic principles of exporting’


The scheme is designed to help exporters realise their potential and allows for a local international trade adviser to support a company on a one-to-one basis for up to 12 months. Specialist advice and guidance also includes the development of a strategic action plan, a strategic workshop, export health check, attending masterclasses and an opportunity to network with other Passport companies. Mark said: “Through the strategic workshop


companies can kick-start their plans by gaining an understanding of the basic principles of exporting.” Topics such as how to select suitable


markets, the importance of market research and an effective marketing plan, the protection of intellectual property rights, shipping and documentation, the importance of international communication and how to tailor products or services to a specific marketplace, are all covered during the workshop session. One company which has


already benefited from the Passport to Export programme is Arden Photonics, which later this year is displaying some of its product range at major international photonics and optoelectronics exhibitions in Germany, China and India. Arden Photonics was founded in 2001 as a


International trade adviser: Mark Sankey


cent of turnover and it has annual sales of half-a-million dollars in the highly-competitive US marketplace. David said Passport to Export had given the


company a “very clear focus”, helping it to achieve a “big success story” in US sales. Establishing a name for itself in the US had also enabled it to win new orders in Europe. “UKTI has advised us for more than nine


years and been very supportive, helping us to expand our business and target further international markets, as well as pointing us in the right direction to learn about new territories and attending overseas trade shows. “Our relationship is very


much long-term – and long may it continue,” added David, who prides himself on running an enterprise whose technical


Export focus: David Robinson of Arden Photonics


expertise and product innovation differentiates it technologically from others in the market. The latest company to sign


up for Passport to Export is Birmingham-based Design


fledgling company based on the former Aston Science Park with the aim of developing, manufacturing and selling innovative products for the photonics industry in the UK and abroad. David Robinson, founder and managing


director of Arden Photonics, who has worked extensively in the design and marketing of equipment for optical fibre and laser makers and component manufacturers throughout the world, said that his first contact with UKTI was when the company was going through a phase of product development. “The UK market simply wasn’t big enough for our product and we identified that to grow the business we needed to sell in overseas markets,” he said. Overseas trade now accounts for 80 per


Denim. Founded in 2008 by managing director Asad Khan, it rapidly became one of the fastest-growing start-ups in its sector. The company prides itself on producing design-led quality denim and leather products. Guided by international trade advisers


engaged on UKTI’s Passport to Export programme, Design Denim plans to break into the overseas sales market for the first time. “We have already attended some of the programme’s masterclasses and by utilising UKTI services we are looking forward to entering the export markets for Saudi Arabia, UAE and United States, in particular promoting our new range of handbags,” said Asad. “Unlike many companies we do not spread


our manufacturing out to dozens of factories on a one-off basis. We’ve built strong relationships with a small selection of factories resulting in a stable and profitable model.”


JULY/AUGUST 2015 CHAMBERLINK 21 EUROFILE


TRADE NEWS AND ADVICE CONTACT: Sunny Claire T:0121 607 1800


Caption needed here Caption needed here Novices should


look to Latvia Novice exporters in the West Midlands are being urged to set their sights on an important “crossroads” marketplace in Europe – and to reserve their place on a November trade mission. UK Trade & Investment, which provides


advice and support packages for both first time exporters and businesses looking to expand their exporting capabilities, is organising an Export Insight Visit to Latvia and says companies wishing to go on the trip should secure their attendance by emailing enquiries@uktiwm.co.uk or calling 0345 222 0159. Mark Sankey, head of the UKTI team in


Birmingham, said that the visit, to Latvia’s capital city of Riga on 23-25 November, was tailored exclusively for businesses with little or no export experience, in order to broaden their business horizons and to present them with opportunities and a taste of doing business in a market abroad.


School celebrates


Europe Day As part of Europe Day, Europe Direct Birmingham worked together with Joseph Leckie Academy (JLA) in Walsall to help the school celebrate the occasion. Europe Direct gave a presentation to the


students about what the European Union is, and how it works for them. The students taking part delivered their


own presentations on EU countries, which included interesting facts about Europe and a historical view of the EU’s formation. Denitsa Ivanova from JLA said: “The idea of


celebrating in Joseph Leckie Academy came from the fact that it contains a vast number of staff and students from Central and Eastern Europe. With such a big diversity, we decided to show that the European Union's motto 'united in diversity' really is true.”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52