LEP Urges County Businesses to Export

News release

23rd May 2013

An organisation tasked with boosting the local economy is sending out the simple message that Exporting is GREAT in support of a national campaign to increase overseas trade.

The Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership is backing the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) campaign, which runs throughout May, in a bid to encourage small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the area to export their products across the globe.

The campaign support comes as representatives from UKTI visit the University of Lincoln’s School of Engineering as well as county manufacturing businesses Dynex and Siemens today (Thursday 23rd May). The aim of the visit is to demonstrate the opportunities Greater Lincolnshire offers, encourage investment from existing engineering companies and attract new business to the area.

Ursula Lidbetter, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, said: “A stronger exporting community in Greater Lincolnshire can go a very long way towards securing sustainable growth in our region.

“We are very pleased to welcome the delegates from UKTI to the area and give them an opportunity to see at first hand what Lincolnshire already offers, and how it can develop in the future. Businesses in our area are perfectly placed to take the plunge with the ports of Immingham and Grimsby on the doorstep.”

Andrew Stevenson, Director of Research and Enterprise at the University of Lincoln, said: “This is a great opportunity for the University to promote the innovative way it works with industry and we’re looking forward to welcoming the UKTI team and showing them why Lincoln’s such a fantastic place for engineering businesses to locate and grow. Universities have a critical role as inward investment magnets and the development of the Lincoln Science and Innovation Park with the Lincolnshire Co-operative provides the perfect platform for us to unlock our full value to the local, regional and national economy.”

According to UKTI, less than a quarter of UK firms currently export. The Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, says the aim is to increase the number of UK businesses involved in exporting by 25 per cent. UKTI estimates that by increasing the number of companies who export by roughly a quarter, about £36 billion could be added to the UK economy.

Jill McCarthy from Select Lincolnshire, which works to showcase the skills and services on offer in the county, said: “There is a world of potential export markets out there, and the time is right for us to take advantage of that. The UKTI visit to the University of Lincoln, Dynex and Siemens gives us the chance to really showcase what Lincolnshire has to offer and how we’re well placed to further grow our manufacturing and engineering businesses.”

Businesses looking to invest in overseas opportunities can get support from the LEP to arrange an appointment with UKTI’s International Trade Advisors as part of the Exporting is GREAT campaign. The organisation’s trade advisors can help new exporters every step of the way with practical advice and support to seek out new international customers.

Further information on exporting is available at www.ukti.gov.uk/. For more on the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, visit www.greaterlincolnshirelep.co.uk

Ends

Notes to Editors:

About the Greater Lincolnshire LEP

• The Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership is a private and public sector partnership led by the private sector which aims to improve conditions for infrastructure and doing business in the Greater Lincolnshire area.
• One of the first LEPs to be established in the UK, the Greater Lincolnshire LEP covers a large geographical area with a population of over one million and a diverse range of industries, from ports and logistics to farming, tourism and engineering.
• It includes North and North-East Lincolnshire and the administrative county of Lincolnshire and is controlled by a LEP board made up of leading figures in the public and private sector.

About UKTI

• UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the Government department that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy, and also helps overseas companies bring their high quality investment to the UK’s economy
• UKTI offers expertise and contacts through its extensive network of specialists in the UK, and in British embassies and other diplomatic offices around the world. The organisation provides companies with the tools they require to be competitive on the world stage.
• For more information on UKTI, visit www.ukti.gov.uk or visit the online newsroom at www.ukti.gov.uk/media. You can also keep in touch with developments at UKTI through www.blog.ukti.gov.uk, www.twitter.com/ukti and www.flickr.com/photos/tags/ukti.

Cerri Delaney
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
07985 143990
cerri@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @CerriDelaney

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