Photo : Shows Mayor David Skaith with Kirsty’s founder Kirsty Henshaw
Businesses setting out on trade missions to Germany, Dubai Hong Kong and New York have urged others to tap into the Get Exporting fund.
The next round of the fund opened to applications this week to help boost the exports of even more businesses across York and North Yorkshire.
There are grants of up to £10,000 available to fund trips to international trade shows or marketing campaigns in new countries.
It follows a series of export roadshows which took export champions and experts in exports to more than 100 businesses across Tadcaster, Harrogate, Scarborough, Helmsley, York, Catterick and Skipton.
The programme has so far supported 43 businesses with grants totalling nearly £360,000.
Pickering-based manufacturing business If Carboard Creations will be using the grant to exhibit in Germany at Ambiente in February – the world’s largest consumer goods trade show.
Stephen Mumford, who is the sales director at If Cardboard Creations, said:
“When we grow our sales through exports, we will need to employ more designers and drivers and that can only be great news for rural communities like Pickering.
“If it was easy everyone would be exporting their products, but the Get Exporting grants give us the confidence to take these opportunities.”
Treske, a kitchen and furniture manufacturer based in Thirsk, used the grant to expand its network in Hong Kong and Melbourne, Australia.
Justin Bartlett, managing director at Treske, said:
“We design and build quality furniture that lasts for decades and recently completed a project at St Peter’s Seafarers’ Church in Hong Kong.
“So, we used the grant to help us to attend the opening, where we were able to build our base of contacts while showcasing our finished product.
“It was a great opportunity to showcase our work with an Archbishop, four Bishops and clergy from all over the world who now all know that we make something special.”
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.
Earlier this 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.
Jennifer Wood, of Ripon based O&3 Limited and Chair of the Business Board, said:
“Exporting is key to the economic success of York and North Yorkshire. It was fantastic to see so many local businesses seize the funding opportunity in the first round, traveling to major trade shows around the world and securing new deals.
“As the co-founder of a business that exports, I know the challenges of breaking into international markets, but I also know the rewards are more than worth the effort. I strongly encourage our region’s businesses to follow the success of companies like If Carboard Creations and Treske and apply for this second round of grants to Get Exporting.”
For more information and to access the programme’s prospectus, please visit https://yorknorthyorks-ca.gov.uk/project/business-innovation-fund/