A Bradford-based campaign to boost the region’s exports by about £3 billion has helped open the door to a potential new overseas market for a local steel processing company.

Dent Steel (Yorkshire), of Low Moor, which stocks steel plates and sections for the ship building industry, is pursuing the prospect of winning orders from Canadian shipyards after becoming involved in the We Are International initiative, which is being co-ordinated from the Bradford office of trade body Chamber International.

Representatives from family-run Dent Steel attended a We Are International networking event where they met trade officials from Canada.

Neil Heslop, the company’s export sales executive, said: “This was very useful and led to an overseas visit to Canada and the potential to explore contracts with local shipyards. While this has not yet come to fruition, it is an export opportunity which would not have come about without the We Are International event and we are hopeful that it will lead to new export trade for our business.”

More than 90 existing and potential exporters attended a recent We Are International event and were told that more effective use of the internet could dramatically boost overseas sales.

Experts from business advisers Deloitte outlined how to harness the web for exports and some of the tax and employment considerations of establishing an overseas base.

The main speaker was Larry Gould, chief executive of global translation services company thebigword. Mr Gould, who has secured contracts worth more than £50 million in Europe, the US and Afghanistan, explained how simple measures such as localising websites by translating into local languages could help customer confidence and boost sales.

Rob Rospepedzihowski, commercial sales director of electronics manufacturer Premier Farnell, said that harnessing the web, along with strategic call centres and multi-lingual staff, had been a major driver of growth at the company which how has global sales of £973 million.

He said: “Harnessing the internet for exports has been crucial for our business and it is true to say that we would not still be in business if we had not done so.”

Delegates also included members of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, Export Network ambassadors and specialists from Chamber International and UKTI.

Tim Bailey, international trade director of Chamber International, said: “Increasing exports is crucial to getting the Leeds City Region economy growing. This campaign is designed to bring experienced exporters into contact with those who are starting out and need the confidence and contacts.”