The government has committed to sign a new five year contract with locally based providers across England in order to deliver export support to businesses, with Chamber Link selected to deliver these services in the North West.
Chamber Link contract with 6 major North West (NW) Chambers of Commerce and other NW Chambers for the delivery of UKTI services, and have been chosen as a preferred bidder by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) as the locally based provider of their long-term export support scheme.
The five year length of the contract will means that businesses will be able to count on consistency in support delivery, affirming the government’s drive to increase the number of companies exporting goods and services.
As part of the scheme, Chamber Link will act as a local support network to help companies start or increase overseas trading by helping them to find customers in new markets, taking part in trade shows and exporting online across the globe.
The contract lengths also means that English companies would be eligible to bid for up to £100 million in additional export support through European Structural & Investment Funds.
Trade Minister Lord Livingston said:
“I am delighted that we can commit to long term contracts and provide the support that businesses need to break into new markets creating jobs and growth for their region.
“UKTI will be working with locally based organisations, including social enterprises and Chambers of Commerce, to ensure that public money is targeted at where it is most needed and spent responsibly.”
UK Trade and Investment helped a total of 47,960 businesses in 2013 to 2014 to export for the first time or find new markets through its extensive network of specialists in the UK and in British embassies around the world.
Aside from Chamber Link in the North West, other local bidders include:
- South West – Business West incorporates the Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Chambers
- South East – GLE, a not for profit Enterprise Agency
- London – GLE
- East – Exemplas Trade, owned by University of Hertfordshire
- East Midlands – EMB, a not for profit business 75% owned by East Midlands Chambers of Commerce – the Chambers covering Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Northampton
- West Midlands – West Midlands LLP, a partnership of all West Midlands Chambers of Commerce
- North East – North East Chamber of Commerce
- Yorkshire and Humber – Enterprise Growth Solutions, a partnership of Exemplas and Reed Solutions
Words: Peter Cribley