Chambers survey shows number of exporting firms is on the up

THE number of exporting firms continues to increase as more companies ‘think global’, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

Its survey of more than 4,500 businesses, released today, shows that businesses that ‘think global’, either because they have previously worked abroad or they collaborate with international partners in business, are far more likely to export than those with little international experience.

Now, the BCC is calling for more efforts from the Government to place students and graduates in international business placement schemes, to encourage the employers of tomorrow to build their companies with a global perspective in mind.

The BCC said that rebalancing the UK economy towards exports is vital for growth and it is also calling for an international business placement scheme, which could help unemployed graduates undertake research in new markets.

Key findings from the survey include:

• Three of the main factors that encourage businesses to trade internationally among current and potential exporters are: collaboration with overseas partners, such as a joint venture (78%); previous work experience abroad (60%); and being part of an international business group (54%)

• 68% of non-exporters who express little ambition to do so have never lived abroad, compared to 57% of current exporters

• Nearly one-third of current exporters surveyed (28%) have lived abroad for more than a year, compared to 19% of respondents who do not export and are unlikely to do so in the future

• Four out of ten potential exporters cite family ties as an influence on their decision to trade overseas

• More than half of potential exporters (53%) see international links between their local com-munities and overseas communities as influential to their decision to trade abroad.

John Longworth, director general of the BCC, said: “As the world becomes an increasingly open and interconnected market place, it is vital companies ‘think global’ and develop a mind-set that is naturally geared towards exporting and entering new markets.

“It is fascinating to see that nearly a third of business people who trade overseas have lived or worked abroad for more than a year. International experience like this builds export skills, so we should look to encourage more people into international placement opportunities, as this would provide global connections to the exporters of tomorrow.”