BUSINESS aid group UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) claims it has helped more than 1,900 Merseyside and North West companies increase their exports over the last 12 months, despite the severe economic downturn.
UKTI’s latest quarterly survey shows that a record 20,700 businesses were helped to generate £3.6bn in additional profit over the past 12 months.
Of these, over 1,900 firms were from the North West.
UKTI customers were interviewed in early 2009 as part of the independent Performance and Impact Monitoring Survey (PIMS).
While they reported that the global economic downturn had affected their businesses, over half – 51%– were experiencing increasing demand from abroad. The survey confirmed that UKTI had shot past its target of helping 20,000 businesses in 12 months.
It said that 20,700 UK firms had received “significant assistance” from UKTI, an increase of 1,400 companies on the previous survey.
UKTI’s customers, of which 90% are small and medium-sized businesses, estimated that UKTI helped their businesses to generate an additional £600m profits over the year.
Minister for Trade and Investment, Lord Davies of Abersoch, said: “These excellent results show that UK Trade & Investment is helping UK firms to navigate out of the downturn.
“Companies that export are more resilient. In these difficult times, our challenge is to ensure businesses know there is government help on offer for firms willing to seek out business opportunities overseas.”
Changes that came into effect this month mean UKTI is able to offer more help to UK businesses.
From April 1, it doubled the number of grants that individual businesses can receive for its Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP).
Each year, more than 3,000 UK businesses receive TAP grants of up to £1,800 to participate in trade shows abroad.
This financial year, grants are available for more than 400 trade shows in many markets.
Solo TAP grants are also available for companies wishing to exhibit independently at events not listed on the UKTI website.
Under the new rules, the number of grants available to businesses in their lifetime will double to six per company, with the proviso that the company visits at least two different markets.
And for businesses that have already benefited from the TAP programme, the slate has been wiped clean, and previously awarded grants will not be taken into account.
