Best Sellers

SUCCESS story: Clive Gallagher, managing director of Sellers Engineering, left, with Clive Baird, chief executive of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), Clive Drinkwater, director of UKTI North West, and Gary Birney, production director at Sellers Engineering

Trade chief’s praise for top exporter
NICK Baird, the new chief executive of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), came to Chadderton to investigate one of Greater Manchester’s export success stories.

Mr Baird visited Sellers Engineering during a tour of the region, in his role which will see him spearhead UKTI’s five-year plan to encourage companies to boost their exports.

The organisation helps local firms succeed in the global economy, and it was in that capacity he visited Sellers Engineering to find out how it was faring abroad.

Accompanied by Clive Drinkwater, director of UKTI North West, Mr Baird met the engineering firm’s managing director Clive Gallagher, production director Gary Birney and some of their staff.

The bespoke engineering company manufactures a huge range of products, from metal bins, containers and skips used by waste and recycling organisations, local authorities, hotels and shops, to large bulk waste carriers.

Founded in 1975, Sellers Engineering moved into the export market only two years ago when the home market began to dip.

Since then, with the help of UKTI’s passport to export and gateway to global growth programmes, the firm has attracted export orders worth almost £350,000.

It has built up an impressive range of contacts in Dubai, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Kurdistan and Iran, and has been extremely pro-active in exploring new markets.

The firm has also attended UKTI Trade Missions to Saudi Arabia, Kurdistan, Kuwait and Dubai.

Mr Gallagher said, “I can’t speak highly enough of UKTI.

“It has been very helpful and assisted enormously.

“The contacts it provides are invaluable — the embassy staff overseas are extremely knowledgeable and have set up superb high-level introductions for us.”

Mr Baird said he was delighted to have been able to meet the people behind “such a dynamic and successful company.”

He said: “Meeting regional manufacturers and seeing the excellent work they are doing is an important part of my role, and UKTI is committed to helping firms such as Sellers Engineering to achieve both individual success and to promote economic growth through exporting.

“Local growth is how we will strengthen our wider economy and improve our standing internationally.

“UKTI wants to ensure businesses of all sizes and in all sectors are able to access expert knowledge and practical assistance to help them make the most of their overseas potential.”