Coventry & Warwickshire leading the West Midlands for exports

Firms in Coventry and Warwickshire are leading the West Midlands when it comes to exporting their goods and services, latest research has shown.

Research carried out by the Midlands Engine found that 15.6% of companies across Coventry and Warwickshire are exporting – the highest of any Local Enterprise Partnership in the West Midlands region.

The research found that the United States was the top export market for the whole of the Midlands, with Germany and France following closely behind. Australia was next on the list, with Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands making up the next of the top seven, highlighting the importance of EU markets.

Government organisations, including the Department for International Trade (DIT), are the most likely to be asked by businesses for support (56%) while Chambers of Commerce (32%) were also high on the list.

In Coventry and Warwickshire, DIT services are delivered by the International Trade Hub at the area’s chamber of commerce.

Ajay Desai, Trade Director at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “This is a really positive story for Coventry and Warwickshire and for our businesses’ determination to trade overseas.

“We have worked hard to promote the benefits of exporting to those companies that don’t and to offer additional support to those that do to find new markets.

“The fact that we have DIT services here and additional international trade help and membership means that the Chamber in Coventry and Warwickshire is the go to organisation for support with exports.”

Companies that do not currently export listed their main reasons as not knowing where to start through to complex regulations.

Those that do sell abroad said local regulation & standards, supply chain & logistics, paperwork and tariffs & taxes proved to be the biggest obstacles when they first started to export.

Nevertheless, James Ahearne, International Trade Commercial Executive at the chamber, said these were barriers that could be overcome with assistance.

He said: “Not to be blasé about it, but the chamber is helping businesses with all of these issues on a daily basis.

“We are leading on the new AEO (Authorised Economic Operator) scheme which enables companies to streamline their processes and fast-track goods through certain customs procedures when exporting overseas.

“But there’s lots of face-to-face and one-to-one support on offer too because every business has a different product or service.”

Close