New export funding to help West Midlands businesses trade overseas

Small businesses in the West Midlands can benefit from a new support programme that will help them to trade overseas.

The West Midlands Combined Authority has awarded £632,000 to the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce to lead a programme of support in Coventry, Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country to help businesses take their first steps into exporting or to support firms in growing their international markets.

It is aimed at both manufacturers and service sector businesses and will feature a mix of one-to-one advice from expert export advisors, online workshops and face-to-face events.

Greater Birmingham and Black Country Chambers will support the delivery of the programme in their regions.

The support will help to boost exporting from the region, which is proven to boost the bottom line of individual businesses but also enhances their longer-term resilience and success and drives efficiency and innovation.

Evidence shows that businesses that export, and those that seek support with exporting, are more productive than those that don’t.

The programme is targeting businesses in specific areas – such as aerospace, electric light vehicle manufacturing, health tech/med tech, logistics/distribution, professional/financial services and e-commerce – but the Chamber is urging all businesses who are looking for help to export to get in touch.

Funding for the programme was awarded through Business Growth West Midlands and is designed to support growth in the regional economy.

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chair, said: “Helping local businesses step into international markets is key to building a strong economy and creating good jobs for local people.

“For many smaller firms, expanding abroad can be a springboard to success, giving them the chance to develop new products, boost competitiveness, and secure overseas customers. This programme provides the targeted support needed to make those first steps easier, paving the way for growth that benefits communities across the West Midlands.”

Keely Hancox, of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that this new support is available to businesses across our patch.

“Exporting benefits individual businesses, the local economy and UK plc and that is why we want to encourage companies who have never traded internationally to get in touch to see how they can benefit from this help. It could be a game changer for them.

“Equally, there might be businesses who are trading in some markets around the world but would like support in broadening those markets and, again, we can help.

“My advice would be to get in touch because this is an incredible opportunity to take your business to another level through tailored, one-to-one support from genuine experts in this field.”

Tom Marren, of Coventry-based WOMAG – which now exports to the Middle East, Far East and Africa, said: “Exporting can bring major benefits to your business but you can't do everything by yourself. If you ask for help and bring in support it means you can move a lot more quickly when it comes to growing your overseas markets.”

The project is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), and delivered by the Coventry & Warwickshire, Black Country, and Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce.

Find out how to access the support on the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber website.