E-Tech brings home international trade award
A NORTH West manufacturing company which has transformed its fortunes by embracing international business has won a prestigious award.
Liverpool-based cable accessories maker E-Tech Components, won the prestigious North West Passport to Export Award 2010.
The award, organised by UK Trade & Investment, was made last night at a ceremony at Knowsley Hall.
The accolade was given to celebrate the overseas success achieved by North West companies following participation in the UKTI Passport to Export Programme, which helps companies take their first steps into international trade.
E-Tech’s turnover has risen 60% since March 2008. Judges praised its tenacity as it has developed business partnerships in Dubai and now India.
As well as the overall award, E-Tech won the Merseyside award.
The other sub-regional winners were: Hawkshead Relish for Cumbria; Lancashire-based Swimfin which has pioneered a swimming aid; Macclesfield-based Tidy Planet won the Cheshire award; while architectural mouldings specialist W Howard won the Greater Manchester award.
E-Tech managing director Chris Montgomery said the award was a “big shock”, but that international trade had helped the firm overcome tough trading conditions at home.
“Until 2006 overseas trade was a low priority for us. We were not really aware of our export potential, and when our website generated queries from the Middle East it took us a while to take them seriously.”
The Passport to Export Scheme helped E-Tech internationalise its website and made the company even more visible to overseas customers which in turn led to an increase in queries from around the world.
That led to orders from Bombadier in India, one of the largest train manufacturers in the world. UKTI is now assisting E-Tech to set up a joint venture with the company, and is due to visit India soon to further the project.
E-Tech, which has a turnover of £1.2m, now supplies components for Dubai’s new Metro Rail system and hopes that will lead to more big opportunities as the planned Saudi rail system nears development.
Clive Drinkwater, UKTI’s international trade director for the North West, added:
“E-Tech Components are not the first company to have ignored overseas orders – the prospect can be daunting. But Chris did exactly the right thing by taking on the challenge and talking to UKTI about his options. Now the company is reaping the rewards and finding that, as its profile rises, yet more deals are being generated.
“Trading in international markets is key to business success and research shows that exporters have higher levels of productivity, employment and investment than non-exporters.”
The awards ceremony was hosted by Granada TV’s Lucy Meacock, who praised the winners’ passion and success.
