Small businesses in the UK should take advantage of trade opportunities in the EU and on a global level to boost company growth and the UK economy, says business and enterprise minister Mark Prisk.
Speaking at the Going Global conference in Cambridge, Prisk addressed issues concerning small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) such as breaking through red tape, understanding overseas trade developments, and how to expand into new markets.
The free conference, which was hosted by vice chairman of the European parliament’s international trade committee Robert Sturdy and included talks from other senior business representatives, promoted the interaction with new foreign markets and aimed to make businesses more aware of the support services available to them.
The conference forms part of the Government’s Business in You campaign to encourage more people to start and develop their business throughout 2012.
Mark Prisk said: “Giving businesses the confidence to trade abroad is vital to help boost growth in the economy. UK Export Finance is supporting SMEs by introducing a range of financial support for businesses that want to export but can’t obtain the finance they need through the normal commercial routes.”
Prisk also said that the Government was supporting businesses to ‘protect their intellectual property’ by implementing an online community of advisors. It also announced it will employ the first international ‘attaché’ – an intellectual property expert – to help UK businesses with enforcement rights and issues abroad.
He reiterated: “With support from the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), we will give entrepreneurs the confidence to explore new markets and grow their business.”
