Photo: Mayor David Skaith with trainee cabinet maker Aeddan on a recent visit to Treske in Thirsk to hear about their experience with Get Exporting.
The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire has unlocked a new wave of export funding for businesses, taking the total support up to £900,000.
The third round of the Get Exporting programme is available for applications today (Monday, May 11) with £265,000 in grants for businesses to tap into.
So far, the programme has already given around 70 businesses the backing they need to set out on export missions across North America, Europe and Asia.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said:
"We’re already seeing some really positive results by helping more businesses to Get Exporting."That’s why we’re backing their ambition and increasing the size of our grant support, so it’s now four times the size of our pilot."I’m excited to see more of our businesses grasp these global opportunities and continue the momentum we’re building across the region."
Get Exporting offers businesses grants worth between £3,000 and £10,000 to drive sales of their products or services across the world.
Mayor David Skaith recently visited Treske, a specialist furniture and kitchen manufacturer based in Thirsk, to hear about their experience with the Get Exporting fund, which supported a trade mission to Asia.
Justin Bartlett, managing director at Treske, said:
“At Treske we design and build quality furniture for domestic and church customers. We recently completed making the seating and specially designed altar, lectern and font for a new church - St Peter’s Seafarers’ Church in Hong Kong.
“The grant to help us to attend the opening, where we were able to showcase our work with churches from all over Hong Kong, the Archbishop of Hong Kong and his Bishops, as well as clergy from all over the world.
“Everyone there now knows that we can make something special and visually spectacular. While I was there I was able to spend time networking with and visiting other potential Hong Kong projects.”
HR Higgins, a family-run specialist coffee and tea merchants based near Whitby which has held a Royal Warrant since 1979, won funding to help grow their sales in Japan.
Martin Burke, managing director at HR Higgins, said:
"From meetings at the British Embassy to the floor of FOODEX, our time in Japan was eye-opening. We saw hundreds of people queuing from the early hours just to access British products at the major department store.
“The reception was so enthusiastic because of our British heritage and connection to the Royal family that we were actually autographing packs of tea and coffee.
“It’s clear that Japan has a deep appreciation for British luxury brands with a story, and the potential for growth there is enormous."
Labor of Love Films, an award-winning York based film production company specialising in cinematic feature documentaries and scripted projects, also tapped into the Get Exporting fund.
Margareta Szabo, producer at Labor of Love Films, said:
"This support enabled us to take our latest feature documentary to the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam marketplace, where the film gained significant momentum.
"Through this activity, we secured an international sales agent, distributor, and overseas sales, while also building new relationships and future project opportunities, helping expand both the reach of the film and the global profile of our company.”
Businesses have until the end of the working day on Tuesday, June 30 to submit an application.
Those new to exporting as well as those businesses that are trying to build on the success of their work from the first two rounds can all apply.
A previous pilot scheme provided £200,000 in grants which generated more than £15 million in sales. By quadrupling the investment to £900,000, the Combined Authority estimates the current programme could unlock over £65 million in new global trade.
The Business Innovation Fund has come in five programmes focussing on ‘Sector Activity’, ‘Spin-Out and Start-Ups', ‘Get Exporting’, with ‘Great Ideas’ and ‘Get Funded’ launching over the coming months.
Last year, Mayor David Skaith launched three other Mayoral Challenge Funds including the £10 million Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund, the £7 million Carbon Negative Challenge Fund and the £2.3 million Skills Innovation Fund.
For more information and to access the programme’s prospectus, please visit https://yorknorthyorks-ca.gov.uk/project/business-innovation-fund/