PWC SUPPORTS SOUTH EAST SMES IN TAKING UP THE EXPORT CHALLENGE AT EVENT IN SURREY
The Government is setting a challenge to businesses in the South East to look to exporting in order to lift the country from the worst economic crisis in living memory and has announced measures to encourage small and medium businesses (SMEs) to play their part in the National Export Challenge.
The National Export Challenge event, which is supported by PwC and HSBC, came to Mercedes-Benz World in Weybridge, Surrey on Tuesday 10 January as part of a programme of events across the UK bringing advice and expertise to help SMEs play their part in reversing the decline in UK’s share of global exports over the last decade from 5.3% in 2000 to 4.1% in 2010.
Trade and Investment Minister, Lord Green, led the event to set out what the challenge means for SMEs in the South East and to encourage companies to enter the ‘Exporting for Growth’ prize. The prize, which will be awarded to the SME with the best exporting idea, is open now to all SMEs with an entry deadline of 31st January 2012. A winner from each region of the UK will receive real practical advice from PwC to help to make their exporting aims a reality.
John Minards, PwC South East Regional chair, said: “Export is critical to lifting the UK out of the econonomic slump and creating British jobs. By increasing the number of companies who export by roughly a quarter, about £36bn could be added to the UK economy. Clearly, the many SMEs based in the South East have a big part to play in this. In our recent survey of private businesses, nearly half of South East companies surveyed said they expected to expand into new geographical markets as a key proponent of their growth strategy.
“There has been a perception that exporting is only for large companies, but there are plenty of examples of small companies in the region who have taken the leap, overcome the challenges and are now reaping the rewards of exporting. Hopefully, with initiatives like this one and the help and advice from professional advisors we will see many more South East companies making their dreams of exporting a reality.”
