The future competitiveness of UK exports and the provisions being made available for UK exporters was the key item on the agenda in Birmingham, as British industry leaders convened for the inaugural UK Trade & Export Finance Conference, which took place at the Hilton Metropole on June 11.

The conference, organised by UK-based information provider GTR, brought together over 250 senior decision makers from the corporate, financial and government sectors to discuss the key issues for the UK export industry, with support from government agencies such as UKTI and UK Export Finance as well as leading financial institutions such as Barclays, RBS and Santander. Strong emphasis was placed on the differing challenges faced by companies of all sizes, from the UK’s global established and highly reputable multinationals, to the increasingly significant mid-sized market to the richly diverse SME sector, the latter very much viewed as the key to future UK growth.

Utilising a comprehensive programme and format that allowed delegates to choose to attend those sessions most relevant to them, discussions centred on a range of themes, including government growth targets and alignment with current corporate forecasts, increased emphasis on emerging markets as a result of ongoing Eurozone stagnation, case studies showcasing success stories, improving awareness of the diversification of options available for exporters and the role of the financial services sector in providing necessary support.

“One of the key purposes of this event is to bring the three strands of UK business (corporate, financial and government) to the Midlands, the heart of British industry, to engage in meaningful dialogue both on what is being done well at present but also what needs to be done better in the future,” says Jeff Ando, Head of Conference Production at GTR. “There are many success stories, particularly in newer emerging markets, but the main challenge seems to be reducing the disconnect between different divisions across industry, government and the banking world.”

The event also provided the the first opportunity to reflect on the results of the International Trade Survey, sponsored by AIG and unveiled in London on June 4, the largest survey of its kind in providing the most accurate picture of the health of the UK export industry. “The results highlight a lack of experience and confidence in the export process as the single most constraining factor for companies entering overseas markets,” says Lesley Batchelor, Director General at the Institute of Export & International Trade, responsible for carrying out the survey, who presented the findings of the survey on the morning of the conference. “SMEs are often unaware of the funding options available. When most companies do not train staff in international trade – a service which the IOE offers – this lack of knowledge and training holds back export momentum. Graduates who have completed our courses reinforce that success and competitive advantage in global markets must be rooted in sound knowledge.”

“British products and services are still known to be of high quality, with successes in key industries such as the aerospace, automotive and oil and gas sectors, so it’s certainly not all doom and gloom,” says Peter Gubbins, Managing Director of GTR. “By holding the first of what we expect to be an annual gathering, essentially a ‘who’s who’ of the UK market, we look forward to drawing on this as well as learning from those who have endured difficult experiences to help lead the UK economy forward.”