Export support for Leeds City Region (From York Press)

Export support for Leeds City Region

9:19am Thursday 7th March 2013 in Business news

A NEW initiative is aiming to boost the Leeds City Region economy by £2.6 billion by 2018 through exporting.

An export network has been set up as part of the city region’s We Are International campaign, in which experienced exporters from across Leeds City Region, which includes York, will provide peer-to-peer support for new exporters.

The network will be launched on Tuesday at DLA Piper’s offices in Leeds, with speakers Eric Hawthorne, managing director of Radio Design Ltd in Shipley; John Chacksfield, managing director of Trio Healthcare Ltd near Skipton, and Neil Park, managing director of Leeds-based Lighthouse Automotive.

A satellite event will be held from 4pm to 6pm in City of York Council’s new headquarters, West Offices in Station Rise, York, where the keynote speeches will be broadcast by video conference and there will be networking with local exporters.

The initiative has been started by the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), UK Trade & Investment and international trade advice service Chamber International.

Tim Bailey, director of Chamber International, said: “Many of the barriers to exporting are practical so this is very much about giving businesses the hands-on help they need. Our network of export champions, recruited from experienced exporting companies, can assist firms overcome these obstacles by giving them contacts and invaluable tips.”