Take to the world stage, firms are urged

A MAJOR event aimed at encouraging more North Yorkshire businesses to go global begins today with a series of seminars on how to capitalise on export opportunities.

The first North Yorkshire International Trade Week, hosted by business support organisation UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), will shine a spotlight on a vast number of overseas markets, including South America, where regional firms have the products, skills, and services to make a big impact.

One company which has already cracked the international market, with help from UKTI, is education recruitment and consultancy firm Prime Education Consultancy.

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The firm, founded by husband and wife team Sera and Tevfik Sekerci in 2004, has gone from a small office in York to a contract with one of the world’s biggest petrochemical companies in Saudi Arabia, expanding far beyond its original concept to assist international students with further education in the UK.

The company was originally run from the couple’s home but it now operates from an office at York Science Park with 14 staff.

Exporting its services to new global markets has enabled Prime Education to provide educational services to international students, schools, universities, government departments and corporate organisations in non-English-speaking countries, as well as offering international educational institutions recruitment support, academic tours and assessment and development of their English language departments in conjunction with York University.

The company has just signed a contract to deliver English language training to the employees of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation.

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Mr Sekerci said: “It’s quite a big business for us. We’re going to send five or six of our staff from here to the premises in Saudi to do some analysis, see their requirements and prepare the project. We hope in June they’ll open the training premises specifically for the English language teaching for their employees. Once the premises are ready, we’ll take over the whole project from them and train 800 students every year.”

He added: “The main benefit was UKTI’s contacts and the missions. That communication in visiting the potential new markets overseas is crucial. There were many other benefits I believe but this is the most recent success.”

Another firm, which is achieving international success is fairly traded children’s clothing retailer Piccalilly, based in Settle.

In five years the company, founded by Hannah Evans, has gone from a start-up business in the Dales to having its products stocked in over 300 independent shops in 30 countries around the world.

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Ms Evans believes the growth of her business was down to the simple website layout and ordering process, which allowed a fast approaching stream of international orders to pour in.

International trade adviser Peter Tweedle helped her to plan a safeguarding strategy in order to protect her ethical brand identity, and to direct the company forward.

She said: “Sales were coming in from all over the place – enquiries from Israel, South Korea, Australia, South Africa, US, and Europe all at the same time, which was brilliant. It occurred to me that Piccalilly could service the whole world if the right logistics were in place.”

Mr Tweddle helped Ms Evans to gain funding and grants to support and develop the usability of the Piccalilly website. She also attended UKTI workshops which encouraged her to develop the existing website.

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North Yorkshire International Trade Week, which is run in association with York, North Yorkshire & East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership, aims to address some of the misconceptions surrounding international trade, and help companies to compete on the world stage.

The events could prove particularly helpful for small and medium-sized enterprises which want to boost their sales. The Yorkshire Post is the media partner.

To book a place, or for further information, contact UKTI events coordinator Sarah Padgett on 0300 365 1000 or email [email protected].

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