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MAS
Doing business abroad
16th June 2011
"Britain’s manufacturers continue to drive economic recovery, in particular taking advantage of export-led demand which shows no signs of slowing. Growing exposure to export markets has not only helped companies survive the recession but also improved productivity, benefiting the wider economy," said Chris Needham, MAS South East Specialist.
With a number of surveys recently suggesting that export focused companies and sectors are moving ahead, the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) South East recently held an informative Q&A session, in partnership with ngage solutions and UKTI, for SMEs in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire looking to explore exporting opportunities.
Benefits of trading overseas, how to get started, where to go for advice and support, managing financial risk and support and managing overseas partners were discussed. But perhaps most importantly, attendees heard from two local-based companies that are successfully trading abroad – Award winning Hansford Sensors based in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire and Norbar Torque Tools from Banbury, Oxfordshire.
Hansford Sensors recently won the Thames Valley Business Magazine Export Award, although the company was only formed four years ago and has just twenty employees, Managing Director, Chris Hansford, has grown the company rapidly over this time and now exports over 80% of its turnover.
Chris Hansford said: “With the downturn in the economy in the UK, we set our sights on overseas markets and now sell our vibration sensors into over 44 countries. Asia has been particularly fruitful, with an incredible rise in products sold into the Australian marketplace.”
He continued: “Our third full service sales and production office was opened in Brazil in May this year and we are continuing to work at attacking other export areas. We have recently visited Mexico and the Japan to discuss how our products can be applied into the maintenance management of industrial plant and machinery.”
The three-hour workshop also heard from Angus Murray from UKTI, who focused on export led recovery, reporting on the opportunities that key emerging markets and high-growth markets present, and the support available to help companies break into them – UKTI named both Saudi Arabia and the UAE as key emerging markets. Just 37% of companies are currently exporting to China – barriers include language and getting to grips with business law and procedures.
Chris Needham concluded: “Now is the time for manufacturers to start looking forward and further afield for business opportunities. Companies working with both the domestic and export markets are better placed to win new business, gaining a higher percentage of the market share. Manufacturers need to start changing their perspective on the global market and discover how international competitive manufacturing can be sustained in the UK whilst expanding export sales.”
Ends
Media enquiries to:
Charlotte Vine, Senior Account Manager
Harvest PR
Tel: 023 9244 9655
Email: charlotte.vine@harvestpr.co.uk
The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) South East
MAS South East provides companies with practical help and hands-on support in all aspects of manufacturing; offering easy access to professional and experienced manufacturing specialists focused on delivering real bottom line benefits – ‘Support for manufacturers from manufacturers’.
Launched by the Government in 2002, MAS is a key component of the Government’s Solutions for Business portfolio and plays a vital role in giving UK manufacturers the support they need to improve productivity and achieve success in an increasingly competitive global economy.
MAS South East supports manufacturers in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Sussex.
MAS Contributes to and Celebrates Manufacturing Success.
