Chris Holland joined local firms seeking the best way of selling overseas at a recent Bradford roadshow.

IT was standing room only for the morning session of the Exporting is Great event held aboard a 32-tonne truck which rolled into Centenary Square recently.

The visit to Bradford was part of a nationwide roadshow touring the UK to provide practical advice and a flavour of exporting to those thinking of trading overseas for the first time.

In a series of nuts and bolts presentations representatives of local firms outlined their experiences and how they had benefitted from a range of support from UK Trade & Industry, which is hosting the roadshows.

Mark Robson, UKTI Yorkshire regional director, said: “Exports are crucial to the future prosperity of this region and our country. Brand Britain is in high demand across the globe and our businesses should be making the most of these opportunities.

“Events on the Exporting is Great campaign roadshow truck allow businesses to hear

how their neighbours are finding growth in international trade, learn how they can do the same and also meet like-minded businesses who can help them.

"International trade isn’t difficult, it’s just different and we hope these events will

help inspire more first-time and established exporters.”

Yorkshire businesses currently export £18 billion of goods and services across the world - equivalent to six per cent of UK exports. So, there's plenty of scope to do more.

"We have massive potential for growing our economy by getting more businesses in the region to start trading internationally.

"By opening up new markets, companies can grow their business and profits and also enhance the skills in the business and create a wealth of new opportunities.

" While many fear taking the first step, doing business in Lisbon is no riskier than doing business in the Leeds city region, providing you analyse the benefits and risks of doing the deal," said Mark, who pointed out that regional companies using UKTI's trade services had reported nearly £50 billion in additional sales.

Roger Marsh, chairman of the Leeds Local Enterprise Partnership which covers Bradford, said its research showed that many companies have not considered that their products or services may be suitable for export.

"We believe this represents a significant missed opportunity and want to encourage businesses to consider exporting.

"As the UK's largest manufacturing base and largest regional financial and professional service centre, the Leeds city region has the capability and potential to b a bigger player on the global stage," he said.

Among the speakers at the roadshow was Graham Fawthrop, managing director of Bradford-based Debar, which employs 22 people making hinges, locks, handles and other components for bi-folding doors.

The £2.5 million turnover company currently exports around 15 per cent of its products to the United States, Canada, Poland, Greece, France, Turkey, New Zealand and Australia.

Graham used UKTI courses and advice to research export opportunities while Debar, which started trading four years ago, was building up its home market.

He said: " Good research and perseverance are keys to successful exporting. UKTI was fantastic in helping me in many ways, including researching overseas markets, making contacts and looking into the culture of different trading areas.

"I started tapping into UKTI's expertise and knowledge base well before I was ready to start exporting and it has paid dividends. We have used trade shows in the US and Germany to promote our products and make contacts. We didn't get any business from Germany but it led to us winning orders from elsewhere.

" Our is traditionally a seasonal sector and quieter in the winter months but last winter we won orders from California which doesn't have the same weather issues as in Europe, and overseas sales also helped us to grow during the recession."

The UKTI roadshow hit town as new research showed that UK manufacturers, while doing better domestically, had seen exports decline.

Lower export orders shown in the latest Markit/CIPS manufacturing purchasing managers' index reflected easing global growth due to slowing economies in China and sluggish expansion in the eurozone.

Rob Dobson, senior economist at Markit, said: "The domestic market remains the key growth driver. In contrast, the trend in new export orders continues to disappoint, falling back into reverse gear in January.

"Even after recent easing in the exchange rate, a number of manufacturers are still finding that the strength of the pound against the euro is impacting order inflows."

UKTI in Yorkshire is working in partnership with the China-Britain Business Council to promote the benefits of trade with China.

Mark Robson said UKTI offered first-time and experienced exporters expert tips and advice on selling into China, which was the world's largest country by population

with a fast growing consumer market and an emerging middle class with disposable income with the largest information and communications technology sector in the world

Mr Robson said the 100,000 or so Chinese students at Yorkshire universities could provide a good sounding board about brand, product or service offered by local firms.

"The rate of change and development in China is fast. There is never going to be another time like this, which is why both the British and Chinese governments have described bilateral ties as entering a ‘golden period’. I

"f you don’t start looking into the potential of the China market now, it’s only going to get harder. In a few years’ time, China will be further along on its path to market maturity and the opportunities that exist now may well be gone," he said.

Meanwhile Barclays bank has joined forces with UKTI as a lead partner to broaden, deepen and sharpen efforts to help further develop international trade and inward investment for UK businesses.

The partnership is aimed at helping small and medium businesses and first-time exporters and could lead to 15,000 more companies working abroad by 2020.

John Winter, Barclays corporate banking chief executive, said: “Supporting UK enterprise and helping businesses of all sizes to expand and grow is something we are passionate about.

"We provide expert help to UK businesses in accessing new markets, expanding overseas, and achieving their growth objectives around the globe. Providing our clients with the tools, guidance and finance to encourage and stimulate their exporting ambitions in turn supports the wider UK economy.”