Greater Manchester's businesses will be the very first in the
country to benefit from an enhanced and unparalleled support
scheme to help them export to more markets around the world.
The Enhanced Trade Partnership has been set up between the
Department for Business & Trade and the Greater Manchester
Combined Authority to get more businesses exporting.
Being officially launched later today (21st November),
the enhanced partnership for international trade
support is designed to offer unparalleled targeted support
for the businesses looking to grow their businesses.
The scheme will pool resources available at an international,
national and regional level into one easy to access place to
ensure new and existing exporters have the best tools at their
disposal.
It will mean expert International Trade Advisors will combine
resources for the very first time with partners like the Growth
Company and the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.
As the experts on the ground, they will work with businesses to
help them set up and expand on their export growth plans.
At every step of the journey, bespoke support will be on hand to
accelerate the aspirations of thousands of small firms hoping to
get trading around the world.
Business and Trade Secretary said:
“My message to any business in Greater Manchester looking to make
their exporting ambitions a reality, we want to help, and hope
that the new hub will pave the way to get more businesses trading
right around the world
“We know that businesses who export, grow even faster, which is
why this government is determined to get even more small firms on
the exporting ladder”
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy , said:
“International trade has driven the transformation of Greater
Manchester's economy over the past two centuries, and although
today our city-region today looks very different, the desire
to connect and trade with the world remains part of our DNA.
“To realise our wider regional and national growth ambitions, we
need to ensure small businesses to have the right tools and
support to make the most of the opportunities in new
international markets. This partnership is an example of what
Greater Manchester does best, bringing together regional and
national government and our local business support network to
drive growth.”
, CEO of the Growth Company
said:
“Having worked with tens of thousands of businesses across
Greater Manchester, we know there is huge potential out there.
This improved partnership is built on strong foundations, and
we're excited to see what more GM's thriving business community
can achieve with even greater collaboration and support across GM
Business Growth Hub and our partners”
Clive Memmott, OBE, Chief Executive , Greater Manchester
Chamber of Commerce said:
“In the post-Brexit world and the current geo-political tension
in global markets there has never been a more important time for
making sure that we efficiently connect our businesses to
international opportunities and then provide top quality support
to make this happen. It's vital that the critical help and
support that businesses require is delivered by the key partners
in a coherent, accessible and helpful way to encourage businesses
new to exporting or for those already active in international
markets to expand and diversify where they trade.
“This initiative is based on these principles and builds on the
sound foundations already in place but wants to take this to the
next level to deal with the challenges and maximise the
opportunities that exist worldwide”
The UK is the fourth largest exporter of goods and services in
the world, with more than 320,000 small firms exporting. But the
government is keen to grow on that number and get even more
reaching international markets.
It's hoped that with local and central government pulling
together, it will create the right conditions to help businesses
in Greater Manchester and across the region to grow and thrive.
