London, United Kingdom United Kingdom (PressExposure) April 10, 2010 -- Data shows that UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) has helped hundreds more companies than ever before to export. The latest independent Performance and Impact Monitoring Survey (PIMS) reveals that a record 20,700 businesses were helped to generate ?3.6 billion in additional profit. Of these, over 3,700 companies were from London.
"These excellent results show that UKTI is helping UK firms to navigate out of the downturn," said Minister for Trade and Investment, Lord Mervyn Davies of Abersoch.
According to him, companies that export are more resilient. Each year, over 3,000 UK businesses receive Trade show Access Programme (TAP) grants of up to ?1,800 to participate in trade shows abroad. This financial year, grants are available for over 400 trade shows in many markets. They include the 'Big 5' construction show in Dubai; an offshore oil and gas show in Brazil; a broadcast media show in Beijing and the Medica 2009 in Germany. 'Solo' TAP grants are also available for companies wishing to exhibit independently at events not listed on the UKTI website.
Under the new rules, the number of grants available to businesses in their lifetime will double to six per company, with the proviso that the company visits at least two different markets. And for businesses that have already benefited from the programme, the slate has been wiped clean.
Previously awarded grants will not be taken into account. Also, a new package of support announced by Prime Minister Gordon Brown has come on stream from 1 April. UKTI's 'Gateway to Global Growth' initiative will provide specialist and tailored financial and legal advice to over 1,200 businesses in the next year to support their growth internationally.
"Breaking into new markets is never easy, but UKTI can help to guide firms through to business success," said Dominic Jermey, Acting Chief Executive, UKTI. "There are great opportunities out there for companies. Our message is that by exporting, you go further," he emphasized. Building on its existing efforts to promote the benefits of exporting, UKTI's advertisements with the message to 'Take it to the WorldUK' can be seen in major transport hubs in England, in the print media and on the UK's iconic black taxis.
Companies that have benefited from UKTI's programmes include Avanti Communications, the UK's only fixed satellite operator and one of only eight in Europe. It used a tour of British embassies to help launch its first Europe-wide satellite.
Conducted through UKTI's Overseas Market Introduction Service, Avanti targeted European locations and has subsequently used TAP to reach these markets via trade shows such as the 2008 IBC Conference in Amsterdam.
In another instance, through UKTI's Passport to Export programme, Shadow Robot sold its Shadow Dextrous Hand, the world's most advanced robotic hand, to high profile buyers including NASA and Carnegie-Mellon University. Trimega Laboratories has more than doubled its turnover and forecasts that it will reach ?1 million in 2009, thanks to support from UKTI.