Regional businesses increase export sales by 3% as they focus on supplying quality products and services

Through 2018, the value of exporting services and products from the Yorkshire and Humber region topped £1.2bn – a 3% increase on the previous year.

Exporting counts for around 20% of the region’s GDP and so is an important part of the region’s economic success and strength. Mark Robson, Head, UK Regions – Yorkshire and Humber at the Department for International Trade – spoke with TheBusinessDesk.com about exports and the wealth of opportunities for businesses in the region.

Robson said that as a region, Yorkshire and Humber has been selling everything from textiles to engineering for years. Now, often the region is exporting services and expertise as well as physical products. He added: “Virtually everything we make, we sell overseas. There’s lot of opportunities overseas for all kinds of businesses.”

Supporting businesses to find new markets

Robson explained that at a recent event that was held with Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq, “really big opportunities” were spoken about for Yorkshire and Humber firms to establish trade links. “They are doing all kinds of things to help UK businesses succeed and find markets,” he said.

This includes the DIT providing funding support to reach particularly more difficult markets. Where a deal is viable, but it may be difficult to get funding from a bank, some of the risk could be underwritten.

“We work with all kinds of businesses, we work with trade advisers and with companies to help plan and market services. Our biggest markets traditionally are those who are either close or who speak the same language. So it’s no surprise to find that the biggest markets are the United States, Germany, Australia. But China is growing.”

Spreading the risk across markets 

Business owners or leaders thinking about exporting can be “daunted” by the thought of exporting, explained Robson. He said: “They should come and talk to us. Lots of businesses across many sectors have made exporting a real success.

“Exporting spreads risk across markets. It means you can produce more and reduce costs, potentially transforming lives. If you think there’s going to be a downturn or something anywhere, or you think you need to have a new product or service – it’s worth just thinking about.”

Robson said that people see exporting overseas as being “very high risk and difficult”. He added: “I think that is my main message – that it doesn’t have to be difficult. Come and find out how to go about it, irrespective of what’s going on in the economy at the moment. There are always going to be fluctuations. At the end of the day, it’s all about having customers and working out where the next customer is coming from. Why wouldn’t they be overseas?

“Going overseas exposes you to different ways of doing stuff – new ideas, new opportunities; and if you don’t then your competition will.”

If you would like a DIT International Trade Adviser to help you with your international growth plans contact us on:

T: +44 (0) 300 365 1000

E: yorkshire@mobile.trade.gov.uk