The opportunities are great for those who try says UKTI

A PERIOD of upheaval has led people to question: What’s going on with UKTI now?

With a new government, new ministers and a new chief executive for UKTI, it’s been all-change at the export support organisation.

Mark Robson, regional director for the UKTI in Yorkshire and the Humber spoke to TheBusinessDesk.com about the organisation’s realignment and plans for the future.

He said: “We’re in a period of change, we have to be nimble. Our role is critical in getting opportunities for people. We work with 5,000 businesses, some 2,000 in depth.”

With export targets of £1rn by 2020, double the previous targets; “there’s a lot of work to be done,” said Mr Robson, “It’s difficult to plan for, but not unachievable, as international trade becomes the norm. Everything is online now and the percentage of sales done online will only continue to grow. Last Christmas more presents were bought online than in stores.

“Yorkshire and the UK are first movers, we have an advantage.”

The UKTI have appointed Brett Harland has the organisation’s international digital trade advisor for Yorkshire and the Humber, having recognised this growing trend, and that smaller businesses in particular may find it difficult to get online to trade.

They are holding masterclasses to get businesses online and service overseas markets, “We’re really working on getting everyone digital.” said Mr Robson.

Brett Harland, the newly-appointed UKTI international digital trade adviser for companies in Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “The scale and pace of change in global digital trade is unprecedented and being reflected by increasing interest in e-trade among online-aware businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber.

The next push for the UKTI in Yorkshire and the Humber will be Export Week, from 9-13 November.

“As part of the Government’s Export is Great national campaign, we want to get conversations going between companies and countries, to find those routes to market.”

They are aiming on holding more local events, not just in the largest of Yorkshire’s cities, “we’re starting to launch smaller events in other places to get to different people and challenge new people, using local networks.” said Mr Robson.  “It’s less of a risk for a small business to take time out of their day to go to an event down the round rather than travelling far and wide.”

Businesses such as Rotherham’s Gala Tent, which turns over £10m and exports to multiple countries, and Pyronix, a manufacturer of security equipment including control panels, detectors and external sounds, which is now on course to reach £20m of annual sales by the end of 2014, 40% of which is in international markets, will be able to share their experiences and knowledge via the UKTI.

They are also targeting specific markets for Yorkshire, such as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Central and Eastern Europe, “places where there is existing interest and we can build on it.”

“We’re moving slightly in our role, in bringing people together to discuss export, and deliver a combined service with local companies and authorities.

“The UKTI can then work within a framework of collective knowledge.”

Other markets include India and China, where there can be a lot of bureaucracy and red tape.

“From thinking about exporting to countries like that and being successful there is a long term project,”he said.

With the USA, Mr Robson said: “We’re two countries divided by a common language. Like rugby here and football over there, it looks similar from a distance but in practice it’s different.”

On the other hand, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, connecting the EU and the US which is expected to be finalised next year may lead to increased selling to our American cousins. Despite this, food and beverage and pharmaceutical firms amongst others, will still need Food and Drug Administration approval – an insurmountable hurdle for some.

“If we aligned these standards it would create huge opportunities for the strong food and healthcare sectors in Yorkshire, for those that are prepared to try.”

The organisation is holding ecommerce for international trade events at The Digital Garage in Leeds, and as part of UKTI Export Week 9-13 November, webinars and seminars to support ecommerce growth, technical elements of exporting, social media as a way of expanding global reach and driving SEO traffic will be taking place.