Clive Drinkwater is the international trade director for UK Trade and Investment North West. This was his working day.

5.45am: Alarm goes off but I’m awake already. Make tea, shower and get ready for work.

6.20am: Leave for the office. At this time of day the M6 is at least tolerable and with a clear run I can do the journey in 40 minutes.

Wonder when my journey will be in the light – note to self to check sunrise charts.

7am: Arrive at office in Warrington. I’ve been in London since Sunday afternoon and only got back last night. Lots to catch up on.

8am: Meet with Mike Eccleshall, who is the deputy regional director for UKTI North West, and we go through the potential impact of the Government’s white paper on trade and investment and how we can get the message out about the new Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) products announced in it.

They will have a very positive effect on the ability of firms to finance their international trade. Also review progress on a number of performance measures in readiness for our operations meeting later.

9am: Team meeting. I keep the team informed about the white paper but also about the senior leadership conference I’ve been to in London and some work I’ve been doing with CILT, the organisation that promotes the use of languages in business.

We discuss accommodation issues and where we will locate UKTI North West after the end of the year when our offices close and I am also able to provide some more detail about the Foreign Secretary’s policy on commercial diplomacy.

It’s about getting all of Government behind the UK’s export drive and should help us.

10.30am: Open operations meeting. Our delivery team assembles in Warrington and we go through the performance of the team so far.

We really need to get more firms to export, as companies that do are much more productive, resilient, innovative and competitive.

We discuss the characteristics of high growth firms and how we can get the exporting message over to them as they in particular are best placed to benefit from international business.

11.15am: I have to leave the meeting to drive to N&W Lancashire Chamber where I meet its chief executive, Babs Murphy, and Mick Mayor, the non-executive chairman of the North West international board.

I’ve agreed to give an after lunch speech to 40 businesses on the benefits of exporting and I’m then driven to the venue.

12.15pm: Lunch is at Haighton Manor, a very picturesque location. After lunch I speak about the opportunities that now exist for British business thanks to the competitive pound.

I highlight new and emerging markets such as Indonesia and Mexico and sectors that continue to do well such as environmental technologies, energy and aerospace.

I speak for about 45 minutes and take questions for 15 minutes. There is a good buzz in the room.

2pm: After the formal part of the event I have a line of people wanting to talk to me about international trade.

I hope that means that my talk went well.

I discuss how to help a business get into Algeria, arrange a meeting for one company in Hong Kong, and discuss export credit insurance with another.

3pm: I head off back to the office where I catch up on some emails and take a call from a company having potentially substantial problems in France, and I agree to talk to the British Ambassador to get him to take up the matter on their behalf.

5pm: Head off back home where dinner is a hastily-cooked jacket potato eaten in time to greet the photographer that my daughter has selected for her forthcoming wedding. Then it’s a couple of glasses of wine before bed at 10pm.