Exporters hope Irish eyes are smiling

THE UKTI North West trade trip to Dublin is part of the largest-ever Export Insight visit to leave these shores.

The two-day trip is part of a drive by UKTI to stimulate economic growth by introducing more companies to exporting.

North West companies attending the trip include Cube 3 Digital, Editors Keys, Language Brand Communication, P2 Marketing, Progressive Personnel, XSortal and GED Laundry Chutes.  

Also attending are PR firms Polaris Media and Paver Smith, K2 Architects, Liverpool Food and Craft School, AE Yates Trenchless Solutions and Amko Foods from Bolton.

The two-day visit, will give new and inexperienced exporters the opportunity to benefit from a programme of networking and training events, including a welcome from Ambassador Dominick Chilcott, presentations from Simon McKeever, director of UKTI Ireland and various senior directors and partners from a range of Irish companies.

Residents in Ireland spend an average of £3,558 on British goods every year, and the country is currently the North West’s fifth largest export market. The value of exports from the region during 2011/12 was estimated at £1.2bn.

Visit leader Mike Eccleshall, UKTI’s deputy regional director in the North West, said: ““The trip will be a great introduction to what exporting is all about, and Ireland is a good country to choose as your first export market due to its close proximity and links to the UK.

“Just under half of our exports still go to EU countries so they’re a sensible choice for new exporters as the cost of flights and transportation is relatively inexpensive. Once you’ve successfully exported to one country, it also makes it much easier to start targeting others.

“UKTI North West aims to get 1,000 new companies exporting this year, and I hope that this week’s Export Insight visit will give many of them the incentive they need to give it a go.”