West Midlands business leaders champion export growth
A team of business mentors from across the Midlands have been pressed into action to encourage more of the region’s companies to begin exporting.
The ‘Midlands Engine Export Champions Programme’ sees 28 high profile business leaders offer their expertise in support of firms looking to expand into new markets.
From vehicle manufacturer Westfield Sportscar in Kingswinford, to textiles design business The SundayGirl Company in Kidderminster, the Export Champions – 13 of whom are based in the West Midlands region – span a wide range of sectors and services.
The initiative was announced at the inaugural Midlands Engine Trade Summit, where International Trade Minister and Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier said: “We want to use the momentum of the Midlands Engine to drive this region’s exports to new heights and I am delighted to announce the launch of the Midlands Engine Export Champions Programme. Twenty-eight experienced exporters based in the Midlands will work to inspire others to either export for the first time or to export more.
“My Department is helping even more companies in the region explore opportunities on the global market and through this Programme local business will truly benefit from a range of expert advice and support.”
The full list of Midlands Export Champions:
1. Philip Duggan, Director, The Boss Design Group (Dudley)
2. Simon Evans, Sales and Marketing Director, Moflash Signalling (Birmingham)
3. Deborah Leary, Chief Executive Officer, Forensic Pathways (Birmingham)
4. Andrew Riley, Chairman, Mechatherm International (Kingswinford)
5. Ian Stokes, Managing Director, Stadi Arena (Meriden)
6. Stewart Towe, Chairman and Managing Director, Hadley Industries plc (Smethwick) & chair of Black Country LEP
7. Julian Turner, Chief Executive Officer, Westfield Sportscars (Kingswinford)
8. Jo Hilditch, Managing Director, Whittern Farms (Lyonshall)
9. Simon Pearson, Managing Director, Jesmonite (Bishops Castle)
10. Elizabeth Gooch, Chief Executive, eg solutions (Stafford)
11. Paul Morris, Founder and CEO, Addmaster (Stafford)
12. James Blakemore, Managing Director, JMB Partnership (Warwick)
13. Gaena Martin, Creative Director, The SundayGirl Company (Kidderminster)
Elizabeth Gooch, CEO of Stafford-based back office software supplier eg solutions, said: “I am delighted to be appointed as an Export Champion by the Department for International Trade. I am really proud to fly the flag for British business and I know that our products are well respected throughout the world.
“It’s a great opportunity to assist other businesses who are interested in expanding. Exporting not only helps businesses grow, it also contributes to the economic well-being of the region – it’s fantastic to have the opportunity to play a part in this initiative.”
Andrew Riley, chairman of Kingswinford-based Mechatherm, which produces equipment for the aluminium and non-ferrous industrial sectors, said he was similarly honoured.
“We’ve had a lot of support from UK Export Finance over the years as we’ve sought to find new export markets and being appointed an Export Champion enables me to give something back. I’m looking forward to working with the Midlands Engine to advise and support new exporters,” he said.
The announcement of Mr Riley’s appointment as Export Champion comes just days after the company won a £25m export contract to manufacture six furnaces and a water-cooling plant in Bahrain.
Over 27,000 businesses across the Midlands Engine exported nearly £40bn worth of products to over 100 countries in 2015 and the Midlands is responsible for 24% of England’s manufacturing output with particular strengths in automotive, motorsport, aerospace and rail.
The creation of the Midlands Engine Export Champions Programme follows the launch of the government’s Midlands Engine Strategy earlier this month.
