Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what support is available to engineering companies in Oldham wishing to export to new markets.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is determined to significantly increase exports by inspiring and supporting UK companies to take advantage of global opportunities for UK products, skills and expertise in new markets around the world.

On 14^th November we launched a new single platform, www.GREAT.gov.uk, to bring together all aspects of Government support for exporters. This site provides tailored advice, along with specific live Export Opportunities, country guides, an e-Marketplace tool to help exporters find online market places, a ‘Find a Buyer’ service to match registered UK sellers to overseas customers, and a link to our local trade teams that provide one-to-one support for exporters.

Our International Trade Advisers working in the Oldham area are providing tailored support to local businesses. Over the last year we have worked with around 100 businesses in Oldham of which at least 10 are engineering companies who have had one-to-one international trade support. The local trade team arranges a host of seminars and events across Greater Manchester and the North West to help businesses explore overseas opportunities. For example, specifically for new exporters, there will be a First Steps to Export workshop at the Hollinwood Business Centre in Oldham on 7^th December. Also, new Oldham exporters in engineering and other sectors can take advantage of Northern Powerhouse market taster visits to European markets from January to March 2017.

Integrated with all of this support, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is also funding the Greater Manchester Export Fund. This runs through to March 2017, and provides grants and loans to Oldham businesses that are investing in export related projects. So far 6 Oldham companies, 5 of which are in the manufacturing sector, have successfully applied for grants or loans totalling over £1 million. All of these companies are working with an International Trade Adviser to support their respective export plans.

UK Export Finance (UKEF) also offers finance and insurance to help UK-based exporters of all sizes and across all sectors, including engineering companies in Oldham. Engineering is an important sector for the UK economy and UKEF can work with engineering firms to help them win, fulfil and get paid for overseas sales. UKEF’s North West based Export Finance Advisers act as local points of contact to introduce businesses with export potential to finance providers, credit insurers, insurance brokers, trade support bodies and sources of Government support.