‘Export champion’ blasts UKTI for being too bureaucratic

THE chief executive of Blackburn wallpaper manufacturer Graham & Brown has criticised UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) for being “too bureaucratic, slow and uncompetitive”.

Andrew Graham, a UKTI “export champion” who gives advice to other business people, has set out a six-point plan explaining why the UK’s system of export support needs reform

UKTI is a Government body which seeks to help businesses trade overseas.

But Mr Graham believes the programme should be run by the private sector, but underpinned by the Treasury, to speed up the service and make it more commercial.

And he believes support should be targeted at mid-sized businesses which are already exporting, rather than focusing on start-ups or firms with little or lower appetite for selling abroad.

He said: “It is fashionable for politicians to talk about rebalancing the economy by helping businesses to export more, but the reality is that those in power are often hampering firms rather than helping them because of a naïve system that is too bureaucratic, slow and uncompetitive.

“We found this ourselves when attempting to reach into new markets, like North Africa and Russia. UK Export Finance treats lending money for export as a massive risk but doesn’t consider the jobs and growth created, in contrast to countries like Germany and Canada, which are streets ahead of us.

“The other mistake politicians make is focusing on very small businesses which have never exported, instead of backing the best – those who already do it and who, with a little help, could do a lot more. If we want to avoid becoming a bit-part player on the international stage, we need to back the winners who have the best chance of creating more jobs and growth.

“This is all about helping the country as a whole, and therefore we have to look at which businesses have the most potential to grow. That is how you rebalance the economy and reduce the trade deficit.”