There’s a big wide world, waiting to be conquered

Businesses in and around Oldham should be looking at the bigger picture when considering exporting as a means to increasing revenue and capitalising on the global market place.

However, there are still a number of myths around the process of doing business overseas that need to be dispelled if the UK is to emerge from recession more quickly.

According to research from Sheffield University, the five myths stopping companies from exporting currently are language and cultural barriers, cross-border logistics, cross-border payments, administrative-regulatory barriers and advertising.

Business and financial advisory firm Grant Thornton has joined forces with Applied Language Solutions, from Delph, to promote the benefits of exporting and help companies navigate their way through the exporting minefield as part of the Export Box partnership.

Grant Thornton will be speaking at the New Routes to Business event on Monday, March 1, in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham, offering valuable advice and helping companies make informed decisions about exporting opportunities. Commenting on the firm’s involvement, Jonathan Riley, managing partner of Grant Thornton’s Leeds office, said: “With a considerable budget deficit to contend with, the Government should be looking at more innovative ways to reinvigorate the UK economy and boost its revenue than the traditional staple diet of tax increases.

“Export Box is an exciting concept which provides invaluable help and support to firms interested in exporting but don’t know where to begin.

“Statistics reveal that only 75,000 businesses in Britain are exporting and with the current weakness of the pound it is a great time for companies to look at trading internationally as a way of helping them through the recession.

“Our research suggests that if export growth were to increase from a steady 1 per cent to 2.5 per cent per annum, then exports will become a net contributor to the UK economy by 2013, adding in the region of £247 billion to the economy over a five-year period.’

To register your free place at New Routes to Business, which will feature a presentation from Google and advice from Grant Thornton, visit www.exportbox.co.uk/newroutes or contact Elaine Ashworth at 0161 770 1676.

Alternatively email at elaine.ashworth@oldham.gov.uk