Calderdale export expert to address latest We Are International event

Founder director of export advice business, Lime Tree, Halifax, Paul Walters, who has 40 years overseas sales experience, largely through supply chain management and logistics, will speak at the event at PPG Canalside, Huddersfield, on November 19.

The two-hour event, at which novice exporters from Kirklees and Calderdale will be able to make contacts and gain free first-hand advice from some of the region’s top exporters, is open to manufacturing and e-commerce companies in all sectors, from start-ups to long-established companies.

Mr Walters said: “The premise of the We are International campaign that, if a business has products which sell well in the UK, they are likely to have good export potential, is correct. There is huge respect for British made goods, and our approach to service, overseas.

“However, exporting cannot be done without the right preparation and research and it is very important to get out to the target market and meet potential customers as doing business in places such as the Far East is very much about building trust and good relationships.

“Novice exporters should not feel intimidated by the prospect of exporting. With the right help, which is available through the We are International initiative, it will not be as daunting as they may think and is likely to be very rewarding professionally and personally.”

The event, is being organised by international trade specialist, Chamber International, Bradford, as the latest in a series of networking events providing practical support for new exporters as part of a Local Response Fund Capacity Building Project, a Skills Support for the Workforce Contract, managed by Leeds City College.

The Response Project benefits from £11.8m from the European Social Fund made available through the Skills Funding Agency to finance training for working people and aims to help SMEs, with fewer than 250 staff, in the ten local authority areas within Leeds City Region invest in developing the skills of their workforce.

Chamber International has already run a series of networking events over the last 20 months – backed by the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership’s We are International Campaign – providing practical support for dozens of novice exporters and leading directly to overseas orders which aim to bring in an additional £1.6bn to the ten local authority areas and create thousands of jobs by 2018.

To book contact Chamber international on 0845-034-7200.