Six new ‘export champions’ unveiled by UKTI

SIX North West companies whose interests range from ticketing software to cooker manufacturing have been hailed as export champions by UK Trade and Investment.

They will join 31 exporting companies across the region who already hold the title and offer help and advice to other companies. The Export Champions programme is part of a drive to create 1,000 new exporters for the region.

The six are: Manchester-based wholesaler of beauty and household goods Rayburn Trading; Heysham-based gelatine-free sweets firm Goody Good Stuff; franking machine specialist Totalpost Services in Alston, Cumbria; domestic appliances manufacturer Glen Dimplex of Merseyside; Advanced Ticketing of Knutsford; and wine merchant DG Thompson, also based in Knutsford.

Clive Drinkwater, regional director for UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) North West addressed the group at an event in Preston and discussed how best to encourage new firms to win overseas business in 2014.

He said: “In the North West our Export Champions are an integral part of our strategy, which is why I am delighted to have persuaded more firms to join us in the drive to increase overseas sales and grow GDP in the North West. Export Champions are all businesses who will inspire and motivate those new to international trade, both by promoting the benefits of export via their own successes and by sharing knowledge and experience.”

Rayburn Trading is a third generation family firm which has sales of £82m, half of which comes from exports.

Managing director Howard Goldman said: “Currently exports account for a huge percentage of our success story, and I am happy to help enourage other North West businesses to trade interntionally as I think it is important to the economy. It is vital to understand your markets overseas and to make the effort to develop a good relationship with buyers and distributors, and I am proud to be an Export Champion for 2014.”

Totalpost’s managing director David Hymers has overseen the international growth of the business which now supply more than 20 countries. In the last year it opened further subsidiaries in France, Germany and South Africa in addition to its three offices in the UK and a subsidiary company in the US.

He said: “We are delighted to be asked to join the North West’s export champions for 2014, having worked for many years with UKTI and being one of the first winners of the Passport to Export Awards in 2006 after taking part in its programme for new exporters. Since then we have grown the company in many markets, and would be more than happy to work with the international trade team to help promote the benefits of exporting and encourage more companies to do the same.”

Pictured above Lancashire companies with UKTI regional director Clive Drinkwater (centre). From left, back row: Tony Attard of Panaz; Dennis Mendoros from Euravia Engineering & Supply; Graham James of Flexcrete Technologies; Richard Unwin of Backbone IT Group; Antonio Parente(2nd left) from ACDC LED; and Colin Walmsley (right) NW Forwarders.

Meanwhile, a dedicated export centre has been set up in Liverpool to help businesses considering international trade.