Unfortunately, it has had its budget reduced as part of the Coalition’s drive to reduce the deficit, and we think that is perverse, and will be counter-productive. Our SMEs need all the help they can get, to identify and develop export leads, and then to break into new markets, especially in such competitive and fast-moving economies as Brazil, Russia India, China and Mexico. We see our major trading rivals, including France and Germany, increasing the support they provide to companies going on these missions, and we believe it is vital that our investment is not only maintained, but increased. It is equally crucial that UKTI constantly monitors the quality of some of its services and products, and that it then maintains a consistently high standard. Its Passport to Export initiative is generally wellregarded, but members tell us that its OMIS (Overseas Markets Introduction Service) reports whilst extremely valuable, vary in quality, in different regions and on different sectors. Equally, we as a movement need to ensure that the quality of our own services to members is consistently high. Many Chambers have international trade divisions, some host UKTI services, and all deliver certification and documentation services that are critical to exporters. As the public sector pulls back, Chambers are set to play an even larger role in helping UK small and medium-sized businesses to get ready to export, and get their goods and services into new markets. Another area where businesses need more support is in access to the European Single Market. Not only could we export more to other European countries but businesses can also use the European market as a springboard for trickier but higher growth markets such as China and India. A big problem is ignorance. That is not to say that the Single Market is perfect. We know that in some areas there are no rules governing how the market should operate, and in others, the rules have not been properly implemented. But that is the subject of a different article. Many first-time exporters are simply unaware of how other European markets can be easily and efficiently accessed. Take the ‘Points of Single Contact’, many of which have
INTO THE BLACK.
Britain has been one of the world’s great trading nations for centuries, but if our economic recovery is to be sustainable, there is no doubt that we have to do even better in export markets.
been up and running since early 2010. They are electronic one-stop shops for services providers wanting to trade across borders. The UK operation, known as ‘The UK welcomes business’ and run off the Business Link website, is as good as it gets but not enough businesses use it, or indeed the other PSCs across the EU. The same goes for the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), which has a low profile in this country. The idea - that SMEs in one member state will use the network to find out what markets are best for their business, or pitch for work, or identify grant opportunities, in any of the other 26 states - certainly has much merit, but it needs to be promoted much more extensively in this country, if our businesses are to benefit. The BCC and local Chambers have been running a series of seminars on EU funding across the UK. It is clear that very
few businesses have even heard of the EEN, let alone made use of its services, although they are largely free. It makes sound practical and strategic sense, for example, for the local offices of UKTI, and EEN and other trade support programmes, to be based in the same building. It’s easier for companies to find them, and access their services, and much easier for the organisations to fine-tune their services to meet local needs. If we are to succeed in driving export growth, it’s also important that we mirror what our trading rivals do - such as France and Germany - in taking a coherent approach to working with business. Our trade advisors are frustrated by Britain’s inability to deliver support services which are genuinely ‘joined-up, and we know it is even more frustrating for member companies. We all have to do better, if the export boom we all hope for is to be delivered.