AN international trade expert has welcomed new research highlighting the district as an export star.

Tim Bailey, trade director at Chamber International, which saw requests for export documentation rise by 15 per cent last year, said Bradford’s long history of overseas trading and diverse mixture of exporting firms was borne out by the latest findings which he said were "great news".

According to findings by FedEx Express based on a survey of 2,500 small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Bradford is one of the UK’s “export epicentres” with 86 per cent of SMEs trading overseas - the highest in the UK.

The report shows that small and medium businesses in smaller regional cities are exceeding export expectations with more than three quarters trading at higher levels than larger cities such as London and Manchester.

Martin Davidian, of FedEx Express UK, said “One of the key messages coming through is that the British brand is what gives small and medium businesses the competitive element. Industrial heritage and culture are being used by regional businesses to their advantage.

“One of the key things We’ve learnt is that small businesses are time-starved, they have to wear many hats, so often the issue is where do they actually go for advice. Businesses need to take advantage of opportunities through local chambers of commerce, UKTI and the FedEx small business portal.”

Tim Bailey said more companies were using Chamber International’s services and the organisation was busier than for many years, not only providing documentation but also advising companies on overseas trading practices and opportunities.

“Our website has trading leads for markets across the globe and we are actively working to match these with local firms in a bid to help them grasp opportunities. We also go into firms to check their exporting processes.

and skills “In a digital world a small business can become a global exporter overnight and they aren’t always in a position to cope with a surge in demand and we can help them tackle the challenges.

“It’s great news that Bradford’s exporting record has been highlighted and recognised. We have a long history of international trading through the wool trade. We also have chemical, health products, electronics and a wide range of other sectors based locally that are trading worldwide.”

Chamber International employs David Attia as an associate to advise firms. He is a former director of bathroom products maker Jacuzzi UK, where he opened offices in Europe and the Far East and built up annual export sales of £12million.

Next month Madeleine Pierantozzi, the former British Consulate-General in Sao Paulo, Brazil, will join the CI team.