Encouraging new figures reveal that firms in Dorset exported nearly £132m worth of goods with support from the county’s voice of business.
Companies drew on expertise at the Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) as the business support organisation processed some 12,022 export documents in 2013-14, up by an impressive quarter from the year before.
Now the Chamber is expanding its services and support after relaunching its Export Documentation department as International Trade Services.
The Chamber is one of just two issuing bodies authorised to certify export documentation in the South West but also has a renewed focus on training, advice, networking and overseas links.
Rob Booth, who is DCCI International trade services manager, said: “Companies in Dorset are playing a key role in driving growth in the county and helping to reduce the UK’s trade deficit.
“The number of documents processed by the Chamber has accelerated over the past year, up by an impressive 25%, and exports are increasing as we emerge from the worst recession in living memory.
“With some 12,022 documents processed and nearly £132m worth of exports from the county, it is important to build on this growth by expanding the support on offer.
“Our new International Trade Services department better reflects the broader support and expertise we now provide to help Dorset firms of all types and sizes succeed on a global scale.”
The Chamber is appointed by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to certify export documentation on behalf of UK companies, and is also fully accredited by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).
In 2011-12 it processed some 8,259 documents, then 9,604 in 2012-13 before surging up to 12,022 in 2013-14 – representing exports worth £131,724,000 in commercial value
The Chamber, which represents about 700 businesses employing 37,000 people across Dorset, certifies documents for about 80 companies a month.
There are about another 50 exporters which fall under separate Government controls for military or military/civilian products.
Sectors include clothing, manufacturing, marine technology and specialised engineering.
Further Chamber support includes its Dorset International Business Network export club which next meets on September 9 at the Carlton Menzies hotel in Bournemouth when representatives of the British-Polish Chamber of Commerce will be on hand.
A full programme of training and advice is also on offer covering documentation, imports, letters of credit and introductory courses covering all aspects of export and imports.
The Chamber is also backing the South West Overseas Business Network – one of the regional groups launched by the Government to offer more support for British SMEs to make advances in high-growth but hard to reach markets worldwide. The South West regional co-ordinator is Sarah Hildersley.
Other Chamber services include a Letter of Credit Preparation Services, for which the chamber has a 98% first time approval rate, and preferential rates for member when using services including translations and foreign exchange.
Britain’s trade deficit rose to £2.5 billion in April, compared to £1.1 billion in March, according to latest official figures, as exports to countries outside the EU dropped and imports of food, beverages and tobacco increased.
CASE STUDY:
A company which supplies vocal pastilles for singing stars is among the companies to draw on DCCI’s international trade services.
Vocalzone Throat Pastilles, based in Broadstone, Poole, Dorset, has seen exports rocket from 30,000 packets in 2012 to 300,000 today.
The family-run company supplies, and has been endorsed, by such stars as Sir Tom Jones, Katherine Jenkins, Kelly Jones of the Stereophonics and punk-folk singer Frank Turner.
Sales and marketing director George Ponsford said: “We use DCCI’s export documents service but also bounce ideas around and attend its export networking club.
“DCCI is very good – it is efficient and always willing to help if something needs doing quickly.”
He added: “We have seen pretty spectacular growth over the past two years as exports have increased leaps and bounds.”
Vocalzone exports to Azerbaijan, Australia, New Zealand and Turkey, and has just gained a medical licence for Nigeria.
Vocalzone was originally developed in 1912 for famous opera star Enrico Caruso and is now used by singers, actors and voice professionals.
It is the only licensed medical product in the UK which relieves throat irritation from excessive use of voice.
The pastilles contain natural ingredients such as menthol, peppermint and myrrh
