Graham Stuart, Member of Parliament for Beverley and Holderness, met local exporter Matthew Hodgson of the Great Newsome Brewery last week to discuss the challenges he faces in the export market as a director of a small business.
Great Newsome Brewery is based in South Frodingham, near Beverley, and currently exports its beer to countries in Europe. They have also received expressions of interest from countries as far afield as China and South America, and would like to expand their exports.
During the visit, Graham gave his backing to the Government’s new initiative ‘Exporting is GREAT’. A representative from UK Trade and Investment, Stephen Noblett, was also in attendance to explain what support and guidance this new initiative can provide for businesses looking to expand into new markets.
Exporting is GREAT aims to inspire and support 100,000 additional UK exporters to sell their goods and services overseas by 2020. Launched in November 2015, the Exporting is GREAT initiative will run for five years and is designed to empower UK SMEs to take advantage of the global appetite for British products, skills and expertise in markets around the world.
In partnership with major British businesses, the programme will support companies at every stage of their exporting journey – from identifying opportunities to winning contracts overseas. To find out more, anyone can visit www.exportingisgreat.gov.uk, where businesses can register their interest in real-time global export opportunities, as well as access expert advice, trade services, training and events.
Commenting on the visit, Graham said: “I would like to pay tribute to excellent local businesses like the Great Newsome Brewery that export their products overseas. By growing their businesses, they create new local jobs and help Britain to pay its way in the world.
“It can be particularly difficult to start exporting for the first time, with complex rules to follow and new markets to navigate. That’s why I’m delighted that the Government has launched a new initiative, Exporting is GREAT, which helps businesses like Great Newsome Brewery to increase their exports and gives other businesses the support they need to start exporting. I strongly encourage other local businesses who would like to sell their products in other countries to contact UKTI and take advantage of this great initiative.”
Matthew Hodgson, Director of the Great Newsome Brewery, said: “It was a good opportunity to sit down with Graham Stuart and discuss how a small business like ours can export and indeed grow what exports we already have. Graham, Stephen Noblett from UKTI and myself talked about the thirst for British beer in non-traditional markets which for many are less obvious, such as Latin America.
“The Great Newsome Brewery has already benefited from the expert advice of our local UKTI advisors and I think the Government’s Exporting is GREAT initiative will no doubt help drive the value of UK exports. If you are a small business with a modest budget and limited time to dedicate to it you may think that export is not possible but we are proof that it is.”
Mark Robson, UKTI regional director for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “We greatly appreciate Graham’s support for the Exporting is GREAT initiative and Matthew and Great Newsome Brewery epitomise the success that businesses can achieve by selling their products abroad in target markets.
“Exporting is GREAT is a five-year initiative and having been launched in November 2015 has already generated in excess of 4,750 applications for export opportunities. As the world becomes ever more globalised and digital, the potential for businesses of all sizes to reach out to new customers and lucrative new markets beyond the UK has never been greater. UKTI will continue to work with customers across the Yorkshire and the Humber region, including through Exporting is GREAT, to realise this potential.”
