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NEWS


SMEs NEED MORE SUPPORT TO BREAK INTO GLOBAL MARKETS


Private companies need to do more to help SMEs go global, according to influential British business figures who met recently to discuss the effects that new digital channels have had on exporting


EXPERT PANEL


BACK ROW: Maeve O’Neill, Trade Development Executive, Enterprise Ireland; Oli Barratt MBE, Co-Founder of Start-Up Britain; Ed Clarke, MD, UK, Ground Operations, FedEx Express; Aaron Newland, Director, Brontie & Co, an artisan chocolate maker; Paul Jobin, Founder, Snugs; Jeffries Briginshaw, CEO of British American Business; Lee Langford, Research Director, Harris Interactive. FRONT ROW: Nicola Swift, Managing Director, We Only Want Nice Things, a food consultancy business; Rebecca Burn- Callander (Roundtable Chair), Journalist and former Enterprise Editor of the Daily Telegraph; Anastassia Beliakova, Head of Trade Policy, British Chambers of Commerce.


PRIVATE COMPANIES need to do more to help SMEs go global, according to influential British business figures who met recently to discuss the effects that new digital channels have had on exporting. In today’s world, almost anyone


can create an online shop with little investment and go global almost overnight. However, according to delegates who attended the FedEx SME Export Report Roundtable, it is no longer enough to just have a website. SMEs need to be creative and utilise different platforms to connect with and capitalise on a global customer base as the rise of mobile commerce has meant computers and email are becoming obsolete. “People are walking around with an


office in their pocket,” said Edward Clarke, managing director at Hub Operations for FedEx Express in the UK, who accepted that today’s teenagers in particular expect online shopping to be a fun and enjoyable experience. As a result, SMEs need to


www.smeweb.com


harness the technology available now to ensure they appeal to this customer base in the future – putting on the pressure to stay ahead and remain competitive. Clarke added: “SMEs with an online


presence are almost propelled on to a global stage overnight. New technology and technological advancements have drastically evolved the exporting landscape, providing a raft of new opportunities that have not been possible before. SMEs need to take advantage of and capitalise on developments to stay ahead and remain competitive.”


Key insights included:  Brand Britain continues to exert a powerful influence globally. SMEs should utilise British values when exporting. Being polite can go a long way.


 Business sustainability practices are becoming an expectation for many consumers. However, SMEs should be


mindful about passing the additional cost on to their customers.


 SMEs should not starve their UK consumer base when exporting. There are always highs and lows when going global, but having a local base can mitigate some of the risk.


 SMEs should continue exporting, despite the vote to leave the European Union. In fact, it places more importance on SMEs focusing on their long-term strategy, not just on the short-term.


 Trade discussions and exporting should be more joined up. SMEs should not wait until trade deals have been implemented before exporting, but seek out opportunities.


 SMEs should pursue markets or “soft spots”, which could provide them with fruitful opportunities. Businesses at the beginning of their exporting journey should start looking for a way in and develop trade partnerships.


SME 5


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