NORTH-EAST firms are celebrating their success as export “graduates” at the start of a special series of events to help more companies export to new markets.

A graduation ceremony took place today (Monday) at Wynyard Park House, Wynyard, as part of the launch event for Export Week – High Growth Markets May 13 to 17.

Organised by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), it follows the success of Export Week in November last year, and once again UKTI has teamed up with partners and business organisations to host events across the country.

The latest initiative focuses on those markets offering the strongest opportunities including Brazil, Russia, India, China and others such as Colombia, Indonesia, Mexico, Qatar, South Africa, South Korea and the UAE.

The Wynyard event provided an overview of the opportunities that high growth markets have to offer and give delegates the chance to hear first-hand from companies already exporting to these markets.

And the highlight of the event was a special graduation ceremony for companies from across the region that have completed UKTI’s Passport to Export (P2E) and Gateway to Global Growth (G3) programmes.

David Coppock, Regional Director for UK Trade & Investment in the North East, said:

“The past year has been full of challenges for the region’s companies but the North East has still enjoyed another excellent export performance for the year as a whole, with £13.691bn worth of goods and services exported around the world.

“We want to recognise the efforts of North-East companies in winning new business overseas, which is not only good for the companies and their employees, but is also good for the local economy.  The graduation ceremony seemed an ideal way to do that and is a wonderful way to launch our latest Export Week initiative. 

“We were delighted with the support for last year’s Export Week – nationally UKTI hosted more than 100 events, reaching around 4,000 businesses – and we’re looking forward to welcoming as many of the region’s businesses as possible at our events this week so they can find out what opportunities high growth markets can offer.

“This month also sees the launch of a new Exporting is GREAT campaign. We are proud that exporting has been incorporated into the wider GREAT campaign, which has been shortlisted for two prestigious national and international awards. 

“This latest campaign will allow UKTI to get the positive message about exporting out to a greater audience and hopefully encourage those who have been thinking about taking up the export challenge to take the next step, which is where UKTI can help.”

Other North East events during Export Week – High Growth Markets include:

Tuesday May 14

• New to export and less experienced exporters – High Growth Markets are open to you. A free event to be held at The Wynyard Rooms, Wynyard Park House, Wynyard. In conjunction with Tees Valley LEP, NEPIC and Taste North East the event is designed to outline the support available to help companies realise their export potential. It will also feature a presentation by entrepreneur Fraser Doherty, who established his company Superjam, using his Gran’s jam recipes, at the age of 14 and now, at the age of 22, supplies more than 2,000 supermarkets in the UK (including Tesco, Asda, Wal-Mart, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose) as well as exporting to more than 500 stores in five countries overseas.
• Latin America Ports Roadshow – 9.30am-3pm at Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. This is a national UKTI event that is also touring London, Liverpool and Bristol, providing an insight into Port Projects in Latin America that offer opportunities for UK companies. Martyn Pellew, President of the British Chamber of Commerce will open the event which will include presentations on the latest developments at PD Teesport and Port of Tyne; an introduction to Latin America; a showcase of Mexico and key findings from a newly-published Latin America Ports Report by John Hales, of BE Group. Delegates will also have the opportunity of taking part in one-to-one appointments.

Wednesday May 15

• Business security – how to protect your business, employees and Intellectual Property while travelling to overseas markets. A free event to be held at Durham County Cricket Club, Chester-le-Street. In conjunction with the UK Security Departments. 
• MSB Support for High Growth Markets. A free event to be held at Rockcliffe Hall, Hurworth-on-Tees, to highlight the support available to mid-sized businesses to help them achieve their export ambitions. 

Thursday May 16

• MSB Support for High Growth Markets. A free event to be held at Blackfriars Restaurant & Banquet Hall, Friars Street, Newcastle, to highlight the support available to mid-sized businesses to help them achieve their export ambitions.
• North East Exporters’ Awards Dinner, at Stadium of Light, Sunderland. A celebration of the region’s exporting achievement during which the annual North East Exporters’ Awards winners will be announced. 

Friday May 17

• High Growth Markets – How UKTI North East can help your business maximise these opportunities. A free event at Durham County Cricket Club, Chester-le-Street.

Guest speakers will include Levi Roots, the man behind the Reggae Reggae Sauce brand who started out making his sauces in his kitchen in Brixton before winning the backing of Dragon’s Den judges Peter Jones and Richard Farleigh. 

The event will also include presentations by the CBI and the Northern Business Forum on how the region’s business community is collaborating to maximise international trade opportunities for the region and the launch of new Access Brazil, India and Russia programmes.