Export academy launched to support South West business growth

Published by

Nicky Godding

The Department for International Trade has introduced a new Export Academy to support small businesses in the South West of England and provide them with the know-how and confidence to sell to customers around the world.

The programme has been designed for business owners who already have international customers, or those who are considering exporting in the future.

The course, which will be offered to businesses free of charge, will provide companies with the opportunity to learn directly from experts in international trade and fellow exporters through webinars, round table discussions, and mentoring sessions.

Business owners will leave the course with a customised export action plan to help grow their business in international markets.

The programme has been designed for both goods and services businesses, with sessions covering everything from selling online to managing international payments.

Paul Shand, DIT’s Head of Trade in the South West, said: “The Export Academy is perfect for smaller businesses wanting to take their first steps into exporting and for those looking to further grow their export sales.

“By supporting SMEs in the region we hope they will be able to look ahead with confidence and reach their full potential in overseas markets.”

Businesses can find out more about the Export Academy here.

Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe. After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts. She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.