South East: UKTI helps 2,600 companies

Data released today, shows that UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is helping hundreds more companies than ever before to export. The latest quarterly survey shows that a record 20,700 businesses were helped to generate £3.6 billion in additional profit.

Of these, over 2,600 companies were from the South East.

UKTI customers were interviewed in early 2009 as part of the independent Performance and Impact Monitoring Survey (PIMS). While they reported that the global economic downturn had affected their businesses, over half (51%) were experiencing increasing demand from abroad.

The survey confirmed that UKTI had shot past its target of helping 20,000 businesses in 12 months. It said that 20,700 UK firms had received "significant assistance" from UKTI, an increase of 1,400 companies on the previous survey.

UKTI's customers, of which 90 per cent are small and medium-sized businesses, estimated that UKTI helped their businesses to generate £3.6 billion in additional profit, up from £3 billion last year.

Minister for Trade and Investment Lord Davies of Abersoch said:

"These excellent results show that UK Trade & Investment is helping UK firms to navigate out of the downturn.

"Companies that export are more resilient. In these difficult times, our challenge is to ensure businesses know there is Government help on offer for firms willing to seek out business opportunities overseas. UK Trade & Investment can help to find the markets that can make the difference."

Changes that came into effect this month mean UKTI is able to offer more help to UK businesses.