New government export support announced for Yorkshire and Humber SMEs

Extra local export support is to be provided to small and medium sized firms in Yorkshire and Humber as part of a new government initiative.

A five-year contract to provide the support has been awarded in Yorkshire and Humber to Enterprise Growth Solutions, a partnership between business skills provider, Exemplas and Reed Solutions.

The contract is one of nine announced in England by trade minister, Lord Livingston, who said that the length of contracts will give businesses consistency and underline the government’s long-term commitment to increase the number of exporting companies.

All the preferred bidders were chosen by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and the providers are locally based. They will help companies start exporting or increase their overseas business by finding customers in new markets, taking part in trade shows and exporting online around the world.

The length of the contracts also mean that English companies will be eligible to bid for up to £100m in additional export support through the European Structural & Investment Funds.

Lord Livingston said: “UKTI will work with local organisations, including social enterprises and Chambers of Commerce, to ensure that public money is targeted where it is most needed and spent responsibly.

“UK Trade and Investment helped a total of 47,960 businesses in 2013 to 2014 to export for the first time or find new markets through its extensive network of specialists in the UK and in British embassies around the world.”

UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) is a government department which helps UK companies succeed in the global economy. The department also helps overseas companies bring high-quality investment to the UK’s economy which is widely acknowledged as Europe’s best place from which to succeed in global business.

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