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  • Have your say at Manufacturing Group Forum with UKTI/UKEF

    ICAEW logo

    Posted 12/04/2016

    Kazopp Managing Director, Graham Potts is all set to attend a Manufacturing Group Forum in London this week with UKTI and UKEF (UK Export Finance). Chief Executives from both organisations are due to attend this invitation only event.

    The aim is to consult on and consider how to encourage more British businesses to export. It’s all part of the Government’s drive to reach its ambitious £1 trillion export target by 2020. Turbulent global markets and a widening UK trade deficit mean attempts to reach this target are way off track, so Government seems keen at this stage to re-assess means of instilling confidence in the British manufacturing sector.

    Invited delegates are to hear from the new to post Chief Executives of UKEF and UKTI, with focus upon their recent shift in strategy to encourage British businesses to export. This is to be followed by an open discussion forum between both Chief Executives and ICAEW Manufacturing SIG members/business stakeholders with an interest in exports. Input and feedback from stakeholders will hopefully inform further actions as well as form the basis of a report to be published in the newsletter for members of the Manufacturing Special Interest Group.

    Have your say!

    If you’re based in Somerset, Devon and Dorset and have any thoughts on how to encourage more businesses to export and what further support is needed to get British businesses, particularly SMEs exporting, this is your chance to influence!

    The 3 main questions for consideration will be:

    1. How are UKTI and UKEF working? What works well, and what could be improved?

    2. Why do small business feel held back from exporting?

    3. What practical support would your business benefit from to scale up?

    Don’t miss your chance to contribute to the Manufacturing Group Forum!

    If you have any other manufacturing or export issues then please get in touch to let Graham know and he will feedback and find out more information at the event. Contact us here or via twitter @Kazopp.

    Posted in: Export

  • All change at UKTI?

    Boxes marked for export which UKTI aims to encourage

    Posted 17/11/2015

    UKTI (United Kingdom Trade and Industry), the government body tasked with boosting UK exports by helping UK businesses expand overseas, is under review.  In 2010, the government set UKTI a target of doubling exports to £1 trillion by the end of the decade and allocated an increased budget to help in achieving this. Five years later, it increasingly looks as though this target will be far beyond reach and questions are being asked about the effectiveness of UKTI in raising the value of Britain’s exports.

    Read More…

    Posted in: Export, Opportunities for SMEs

  • Does UKTI do enough to encourage exports?

    Posted 20/08/2015

    The UK trade deficit narrowed to £1.2bn in April from £3.1bn in March this year after exports increased by £700m. This improvement in the trade balance was largely down to trade with countries outside the EU. However, the longer term position continues to cause concern and places increased scrutiny on what the Government is doing to support export growth. Who is responsible and are they doing enough? If not, what are the alternatives?

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    Posted in: Export, Opportunities for SMEs

  • UKTI and the First Time Exporters Initiative

    Posted 07/08/2015

    In May this year, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) launched a programme to support young businesses looking to break into the export market. As mentioned in an earlier blog post, it was announced by Francis Maude, Minister for Trade and Investment at the start of Export Week 2015. This is an annual event which takes place across the UK, with each region holding several events designed to encourage British companies to export or expand into new markets.  In this week’s blog, we’re taking a closer look at the detail of  the First Time Exporters Initiative.

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    Posted in: Export