WITH Britain’s economic recovery taking time to gather momentum, it’s no surprise that the Government is encouraging businesses to develop their international trade.

Unfortunately many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) perceive exporting to be almost exclusively the preserve of large multinationals – and feel that, for them, it’s likely to be more hassle than it’s worth.

According to the Government’s recent Trade And Investment For Growth white paper, British firms must get into the exporting mindset if the UK economy is to be rebalanced.

By increasing the amount of goods and services we export, we can achieve growth without heavy reliance on the City or debt-financed consumer and Government spending. With the impact of the credit crunch still fresh, few people would argue against this ambition.

A recent survey suggests there is a much work to do. The BCC (British Chambers of Commerce) 2011 International Trade Survey found that 70 per cent of the 8,000 companies it surveyed do not currently export or are unlikely to export. 71 per cent felt they had unsuitable products for export and 19 per cent were happy with their home market. But a further ten per cent said they lacked the resources to “make it happen” and a similar proportion said they would need help to find overseas customers.

These findings reinforce our belief that businesses must have access to the right support and guidance to grow their export markets. The Government is helping with its Export Credits Guarantee Department, which protects UK businesses against some of the risks involved in trading with non-EU or OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries, but more practical advice is very much in demand.

That’s why we are providing local firms with the opportunity to hear from an expert panel of speakers from organisations already heavily involved in international trade at the York St John Business School Going Global day on June 17 from 8am to 12.15pm. Tom Vosa, head of market cconomics, Europe for the National Australia Bank Group, will talk about changing trade patterns for UK companies and highlight where the fastest growing markets are, as well as the prospects for growth. Looking at one of the hottest overseas prospects will be Mazyar Kotwal, director of high growth markets at KPMG. He will provide advice and insights on how to succeed in exporting to India, as well as how firms can take advantage of outsourcing opportunities.

To find out more about Going Global or to reserve a place, phone York St John Business School on 01904 876868 or 876915 or email business.school@yorksj.ac.uk.