Two West Midlands SMEs recruited as start-up growth ambassadors

A LICHFIELD company has been adopted as a mentor to start-up businesses looking to move onto the next stage of their development.

Belt Up Kidz has become part of the Business is GREAT campaign, which aims to build the confidence of small businesses and match their potential for success with the services that can help them grow – especially by exporting.

The company, which supplies retro-fit child safety buckles to additionally secure children in buggies, highchairs, trikes and other devices, has seen huge growth since forming in 2011. It now exports throughout Europe after utilising help through overseas trade agency, UK Trade & Investment.

Participation in the various UKTI schemes opened up doors for the business in markets across Central and Western Europe. The company is now keen to pass on its experiences to other start-ups now looking to secure growth.

Una Driscoll, founder of Belt Up Kidz, said: “Since working with UKTI, we’ve achieved a 70% increase in export sales in less than a year. It’s astounding. We worked closely with UKTI to develop a strategic action plan that would suit a small single-product business.

“As a direct result of UKTI’s advice, our website now features a main site for orders from the UK and Europe, with a page dedicated to international customers.”

Joining them as a growth ambassador is Coventry-based Serious Game International. The business, headed by CEO Tim Luft, delivers products and solutions in serious games, games-based learning, simulation training, 3D intelligent avatars, augmented reality, emerging technology and cross-platform app development.

Dominic Jermey, UKTI’s Chief Executive, said: “There has never been a better time for Britain’s businesses to break into new international markets and the success of Belt Up Kidz and Serious Games Institute highlights the lucrative opportunities available and how UKTI can help firms take advantage of them.

“Exporting helps companies grow and research shows that exporters do better with our help. I encourage all companies with global ambitions to get in contact with UKTI.”