The new service is an addition to the support already available in the region from UK Trade and Investment, the Government’s trade promotion body.
The new service is the result of the Government plans to increase the regional presence of the UK’s export credit agency, UK Export Finance. This government body can provide export credit insurance and support for export finance where there are gaps in the support offered by banks and insurers. It has recently introduced new products and can now support a wider range of exports. The Government is keen to encourage smaller companies to export more and hopes these steps may help remove some of the barriers around finding appropriate finance or insurance cover.
Liz Basing, International Trade Director for the UKTI East said:
“The addition of an Export Finance Advisor will further strengthen the range of advice and practical support that companies in the East of England can access through UKTI. Finding export opportunities is a challenge, so we want to make sure they are not lost through a lack of awareness of appropriate insurance cover or bank finance.”
Patrick Crawford, Chief Executive of UK Export Finance said:
“I am aware that smaller exporters face a wide, and sometimes baffling, array of options for insuring or financing their export contracts. Our new Export Finance Advisers, working alongside UK Trade and Investment staff in the regions, will signpost businesses to market sources of credit insurance and trade finance, and to service providers and trade support bodies, and assist them to benefit from the products of UK Export Finance. In this way exporters should find the support they need to manage their risks and cash flow when exporting.”
The East of England Export Finance Advisor is Gill Targett-Adams and she can be contacted via the UKTI East offices on 0845 641 9955.
Visit www.ukti.gov.uk/eastofengland or call UKTI East’s International Trade Team on 0845 641 9955 to find out more about how UKTI can help your business.
Keep in touch with UKTI East through Liz Basing’s blog at www.businessweekly.co.uk/blog/trade-talk-with-liz-basing-of-uk-trade-a-investment and https://twitter.com/uktieast.
UK Export Finance (which until November 2011 was known as the Export Credits Guarantee Department, or ECGD) is the UK’s export credit agency and a Government Department reporting to the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills. It has nearly 100 years experience of working with exporters, project sponsors, banks and buyers support UK exports. More information about UK Export Finance can be found on its website: www.ukexportfinance.gov.uk
Export Finance Advisers are currently operating in the East Midlands, the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber. A total of twelve Export Finance Advisors are to be deployed in due course in the nine English regions and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.