NE Exporters Awards
NE/165/09 22 April 2009
AWARD-WINNING EXPORTERS URGE OTHERS
TO FOLLOW IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS
Two of the North East’s award-winning exporters are urging others to follow in their footsteps as the region prepares to celebrate its international trade success.
Richard Tindale and Sean Allison were among last year’s winners of the prestigious North East Exporters Awards and are calling on other international trade entrepreneurs to enter this year’s competition to find the cream of the region’s exporting experts.
Nominations are now being sought for the awards, sponsored by UK Trade & Investment, One North East and the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC), which recognise the efforts of individuals who have helped their companies boost its international sales performance.
The winners will be announced at a special gala dinner, sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland, to be held at the Hilton Hotel, Gateshead on Thursday, 16 July when leading figures from the world of business will gather to celebrate the region’s international trade success.
Richard Tindale, Sales and Marketing Director of aerial work platform manufacturer UpRight Powered Access, in Washington, was last year’s Export Award winner. He said:
“Export has a vital role to play as the region adjusts to a transformed global economy. It is really important that we recognise our successful exporting companies through occasions like these awards.”
More/…
UKTI/Exporters Awards…2
Sean Allison, was Chief Technical Office for the Onyx Group, in Middlesbrough, when he won last year’s Passport to Export Award. He is now Technical Director of Dubai-based Askaris, a company established jointly with the Onyx Group. He said:
“The assistance we received from UK Trade & Investment in breaking into the UAE market was invaluable. For anyone wanting to break into an overseas market, I would strongly recommend engaging with UKTI to help – there is strength in numbers and we would not have got as far as we did without their help.
“Of course, winning the Passport to Export Award was the icing on the cake! We were up against some pretty stiff competition and I am honoured that the hard work we put in was acknowledged.”
The Awards dinner will feature serial entrepreneur BJ Cunningham, as after dinner speaker. BJ set up his first enterprise as a teenager prior to launching “DEATH” cigarettes, positioning the brand as “the honest smoke”. He then went on to launch a brand marketing agency with clients including Volkswagen, B&Q and Nokia. He is now working on developing luxury shoe designer “Georgina Goodman” and will show how authentic branding is vital to build and retain customer loyalty.
Dominic Jermey, Acting Chief Executive of UK Trade & Investment will be the key note speaker at the event and Grace House Children's Hospice Appeal has been chosen as the designated charity for the evening.
Entries are now sought for the awards in each of the five categories:
New Exporter Award –for the individual new to exporting who demonstrates exceptional achievement, this could be with a company new to exporting or an existing exporter.
Export Achievement Award – for the individual who has shown exceptional personal achievement in international trade to the benefit of the North East.
More/…
UKTI/Exporters Awards…3
Innovation in Export Award – for the individual engaged in international trade who can demonstrate added value to their company through innovation such as product design, management systems, logistics, innovative technology.
Export Communicator Award – for the individual who can demonstrate how the application of his/her language skills has increased business performance in international trade.
Passport to Export Award – for an individual who has worked with an International Trade Adviser to develop an Export Action Plan that has resulted in commercial success in their target market.
The awards will go to those who, in the judges’ opinion, achieved the most for their companies in pursuit of export business. Each of the winners will receive a special trophy and £1,000.
David Coppock, UK Trade & Investment’s International Trade Director, said:
“Both Richard and Sean were very worthy winners last year and I’m sure the judges will face another difficult task in deciding who should receive the awards this year as there are many others like them who are achieving outstanding results in the field of international trade.
“The region’s international trade performance continues to show good growth, with the total value of North East exports of goods at more than £11.2 billion, at a time when the world’s economies are showing signs of slowdown.
“Obviously we know there may be more testing times ahead but we want to take this opportunity to celebrate the region’s success in international trade and to recognise the efforts of the individuals who are working so hard to achieve that success.
More/…
UKTI/Exporters Awards…4
“By highlighting their achievements, I hope we can also encourage others to follow their example and we want to encourage as many companies and individuals to come forward and enter the awards.”
For details of how to enter the awards or to purchase tickets for the North East Exporters Dinner at the Hilton Hotel, Gateshead from 6.30pm on Thursday 16 July, on contact the North East International Trade Hotline on 0845 05 05 054, email enquiries@ukti.rito.co.uk or companies can apply online via the website at www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk/ukti/north_east.
The deadline for entries is Friday, 28th May 2009. Companies wanting to find out more about the range of services available through UK Trade & Investment to help them succeed overseas can also contact the hotline.
Notes to Editors
UK Trade & Investment is the government organisation that provides integrated support services for UK companies engaged in overseas trade and foreign enterprises seeking to locate in the UK. It brings together the work of teams in British embassies and FCO posts overseas and government departments across Whitehall. In England, international trade support is coordinated by nine International Trade Directors working in partnership with each Regional Development Agency. UK Trade & Investment services are delivered locally through a network of International Trade Teams. The devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements for local delivery of services. For more information visit the web site www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk, call the North East International Trade Hotline on 0845 05 05 054 or email enquiries@ukti.rito.co.uk.
The North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) has approximately 5,000 members located from Berwick in Northumberland down to Thirsk in North Yorkshire. The members are companies and organisations that engage in commercial activities in the region and include the largest employers down to sole traders. There are representatives from every sector. All have company and regional ambitions and have joined the NECC for practical assistance, either for themselves or for their suppliers, partners or customers. The NECC operates and delivers on a region, sub-regional and local basis. Nationally, it is a leading member of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).
More/…
UKTI/Exporters Awards…5
One North East is the Regional Development Agency set up in April 1999 to help the people of the North East to create and sustain jobs, prosperity and a higher quality of life. The Agency is responsible to the people of the North East and to the Government. One North East along with all other Regional Development Agencies across England, share a common mission statement:'To transform England's regions through sustainable economic development'.
Regional Language Network North East offers professional assistance to help North East businesses to: Develop language skills; Develop knowledge of other business cultures; Improve business performance in international markets; Link with language service professionals; and publicise case studies highlighting best practice.
Working in close co-operation with businesses, language service providers and partner organisations, it is building a thriving network to continue to develop the region’s competitiveness.
BJ Cunningham – Biography -
The serial entrepreneur and council member of Business Superbrands shows how authentic branding is vital to build and retain customer loyalty. Whilst still a teenager BJ Cunningham started his first enterprise, importing classic cars and Harley Davidsons from LA to London. This stopped abruptly when the market collapsed! Taking his considerable debt with him, BJ's next move was to launch DEATH Cigarettes - positioned as 'the honest smoke'. He gained such a foothold that the company found itself taking on the combined might of the industry. Then, with a growing reputation for challenging norms, BJ set up a brand marketing agency with clients including Volkswagen, B&Q and Nokia. Having sold the agency, he is currently developing the luxury shoe designer Georgina Goodman. BJ's presentations focus on his belief that companies are like people. Each one of us is made up of three separate perspectives: how we perceive ourselves, how others perceive us and how we want to be perceived. To put it another way, any business must know what it stands for, say it with clarity and do what it says. BJ also uses the DEATH brand as a case study to illustrate the power of provocation and how to flip a conservative market. Whether in a keynote presentation or after dinner, he is a wonderfully entertaining, positive and inspiring speaker.
Issued on behalf of UK Trade & Investment by Karen Bell, COI News & PR North East. TEL: 0191 202 3603 or email: karen.bell@coi.gsi.gov.uk