“COMPANIES SEIZE THE INITIATIVE TO GROW INTERNATIONALLY”

Says Cameron Rathwell,

HSBC Area Director & Head of Corporate Banking in the Thames Valley

In a politically uncertain world, against the backdrop of two failed Brexit attempts last year, the resilience of many UK businesses has been impressive.

While the UK’s divorce from the European Union poses businesses with challenges, many see these as opportunities rather than threats.

As a result, businesses are finding new markets, embracing new technologies, mitigating risks and cutting costs.

Innovation is the name of the game

There isn’t a single industry that hasn’t been disrupted by technology. Businesses are harnessing technological advances as a powerful enabler for business efficiency, sales growth and increased productivity.

British businesses believe they can grow by investing in technology, introducing new products and services and motivating their workforce.

In the next three to five years, businesses expect data security, artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, robotics and the Internet of Things (IoT) to be increasingly important to improve product and service quality, alongside productivity.

Our latest HSBC Navigator Report surveyed more than 9,000 business decision-makers across the world to understand the challenges and opportunities they face. And the report offers lessons for this region’s business community.

Despite US-China trade tensions, growing protectionism and geopolitical changes, and the potential impact of Brexit, companies are surprisingly positive about their future.

This perhaps can be attributed to a number of factors. Economies are growing more slowly, but most are still growing. Agile companies are taking advantage of the shifting trade landscape to grab market share and expand. And firms are increasingly recognising global trade as a force for good. It can spur innovation, help raise incomes and support policies for inclusion.

This list of 100 top exporters reveals some of the biggest companies across Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley, and some smaller but no less exciting.

Many young and agile businesses are building expansion plans into their early growth strategies, rather than bolting on an ill-fitting export plan at a later date.

Nearly eight in 10 UK companies are projecting growth in the next year, just under the global average. They are also focusing increasingly on sustainability and workforce wellbeing. And the most confident high-growth firms believe that their growth will be 15 per cent or more.

Protectionism can boost local supply chains

A majority of British businesses think that protectionism by governments across the world to protect their countries’ economies, is increasing.

But despite the threat of higher tariffs and charges on the supply chain, almost two-thirds of UK companies expect their businesses to gain more than they lose. They plan to tackle the problem through sourcing from local suppliers, shortening supply chains and entering joint ventures with local companies.

Trading within Europe remains fundamental for the UK, but rather than the traditional reliance on Germany and France, UK companies are much more positive about trading outside Europe.

Businesses also think 2020 will be another year of growth. In Europe, where the impact of Brexit is more of a consideration, 78 per cent of companies remain confident that they will grow their sales. But the continent has the lowest proportion of firms (30 per cent) expecting growth of more than 10 per cent.

Read the HSBC Navigator report: www.business.hsbc.com/navigator

Developing life-saving therapies is what drives Immunocore

JSP takes protection seriously as business grows globally

Established in 1964, JSP is internationally recognised as the leading manufacturer of innovative “above the neck” personal protective equipment (PPE) specialising in head, eye, face and respiratory protection.

From its head office near Witney, and with modern manufacturing and testing facilities in seven factories across three continents, JSP aims to improve occupational safety, health and wellbeing of people in the workplace worldwide.

The company has also been voted European leader in industrial head protection by international consultancy company Frost and Sullivan. JSP invests heavily in research and development, designing innovative, award-winning PPE equipment which performs to the highest levels even in extreme environments.

JSP, which reported a rise in turnover to more than £58 million in its last set of accounts, employs around 300 staff and is as ambitious as ever, planning to grow business in its core product ranges through its network of offices and partner distributors in more than 90 countries worldwide.

SAS International flies high on global success

SAS International is a leading manufacturer of quality metal ceilings and bespoke architectural metalwork. Based in Reading, its products are installed in iconic, landmark buildings worldwide.

The company leads through innovation, design and technical acoustic expertise. Its success is built on continued investment in manufacturing and worldclass engineered solutions.

Last summer SAS International’s work on the redevelopment of London Bridge station was recognised at the Architect’s

Journal Awards. Designed by Grimshaw Architects, and containing striking architectural metalwork manufactured and installed by SAS International, London Bridge station was deemed the natural winner, commended for its sustainability, ingenuity and modest grandeur.

SAS International has also won international recognition for its work on both Microsoft and LinkedIn’s headquarters in Ireland.

The company’s turnover in 2018 was more than £97 million.

Immunocore is a leading T cell receptor (TCR) biotechnology company developing therapies with the potential to radically improve the lives of people with serious diseases.

From its headquarters at Milton Park in Oxfordshire, and other sites in the USA, the company’s most advanced therapeutic programmes are focused on oncology. It also has programmes in infectious and autoimmune diseases.

One of the greatest challenges in immunotherapy is the identification of new and safe target antigens (a toxin or other foreign substance which induces an immune response in the body). Immunocore’s approach is based on an engineered TCR-based targeting system. The company is expanding its portfolio to address a broad spectrum of cancer indications, including solid tumours as well as infectious and autoimmune diseases.

The company is making substantial progress towards commercialisation of its key therapy, most notably obtaining agreement with the USA’s Federal Drugs Administration in 2018.

Immunocore’s partners include Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.