Yorkshire businesses urged to take on the world
THE UK Trade Minister has urged businesses in Yorkshire to take the world on and launch into international markets.
Lord Green visited Leeds-based Saras Technology company, which specialises in the design and manufacture of radio frequency (RF) and microwave technology, on Friday to hear about its ambitious plans to secure international business in the defence, broadcast and wireless communications markets.
The company, which was launched in 2005, has continued to grow after relocating to new premises in Leeds and is now primed for a concerted effort to crack Europe.
Lord Green said: “It’s crucial that companies look at international markets. There is a national challenge in that we need to find growth through exports. There are huge opportunities in the export markets, across the channel and further afield.
“Saras Technology is on a springboard of assault on Europe and we need to see more and more British companies doing this. Not enough are taking the world on.
“Companies that get into export markets become more efficient than the ones that don’t. They tend to be more profitable and create more jobs.
“There is an opportunity and we need to take it.”
Saras Technology director, Dr Ashwain Rayit, who owns the business alongside his brother, Raj, said they are both determined to compete in Europe and beyond to expand their customer base away from the domestic UK markets.
He said: “We want to fly the flag for Leeds and the UK and we’re proud of the fact that our world-leading technology is designed and manufactured here in West Yorkshire. It’s a huge selling point at the moment because of the strength of the ‘Made in Britain’ brand on the international stage and we want to use that to our advantage over competitors from the US and beyond.
“Our initial focus is France, Germany and Italy, but there are huge global opportunities for the business in Asia, South America and beyond. There are clearly constraints in the Eurozone, but the solutions we offer are fairly niche, so we’re able to defy the continued downturn.
“We want to build our business and we think we can continue to grow.
“I think companies should look at the opportunities there are in exporting. There is only so far you can go in the UK.”
Lord Green and regional director for UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), Mark Robson, are keen for more regional SMEs to follow the lead of Saras and look for overseas growth.
Mr Robson said: “Enabling more businesses to export is crucial for Britain and helps to spread sustainable growth across the regions.
“We want to reach the many SMEs across Yorkshire and the Humber who are ready to sell abroad, but have yet to take the plunge – businesses like Saras with a clear drive to give it a go. The company is a great example for others to follow.”
UKTI Yorkshire and the Humber is currently supporting a pilot campaign to spread the message that ‘Exporting is GREAT’.
Local businesses are being offered access to grants and assistance, and/or an opportunity to meet one-to-one with an expert trade advisor.
The activity is part of a concerted push by Lord Green to increase the number of British companies that export by a quarter and double UK exports to £1trn a year by 2020.
The latest trade in goods statistics from HM Revenue & Customs show that total exports for the region were worth £4.21 billion for the first quarter of 2013 (January to March), up from £4.13bn in the final quarter of 2012 and up from £4.15bn for the same period last year.
The figures also reveal growth in emerging economies in Eastern Europe, where exports were valued at £70 million for Q1 2013, as well as increases in the EU.
