The smart approach to exporting

The smart approach to exporting

Does your business export, or are you looking to make that first step and expand beyond the UK?

Perhaps you have already considered international trade but thought it was best suited to larger businesses?

Exciting opportunities exist for Scottish businesses regardless of exporting experience and business size.

Smart Exporter, a new international trade skills programme offers FREE high quality export support to up skill and improve the exporting performance of Scottish businesses and individuals. The programme of support was launched in September 2010 and so far has helped over 1,500 companies to export.

Smart Exporter aims to:

- Assist in the development of your international export strategy

- Access advice from a worldwide network of export experts at events (relevant to your international market and business sector)

- Help remove any barriers preventing your business from exporting

- Encourage more businesses to consider exporting

- Provide tailored support and training dependent on your international trade requirements

- Ensure you have a strong understanding of your target market

Clackmannanshire based Harviestoun Breweries engaged with the programme. Managing director, Chris Miller explained:

“My co-director and I were very experienced in the domestic drinks business, and although we recognised the potential in foreign markets, we lacked the necessary expertise.

“We found that the Smart Exporter products were an integral part of the strategy with regard to our export business, and the Strategy Workshop helped us with the design of the brand as well as with marketing, PR and e-commerce advice.

“The Strategy Workshop gave us access to first-class resources which as a small company we don’t have, and would be too costly to bring in.

“The Workshop lasted two full days and because of the doors it has opened up to us since, I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s the most worthwhile two days we have had in the last fi ve years.”

Smart Exporter support consists of specialist high quality training and workshops at no cost, market awareness events and roadshows, online learning tools, factsheets and a national helpline; all helping to address your exporting needs.

The Smart Exporter programme is created through investment by Scottish Development International (SDI), a collaboration of Scotland's Chambers of Commerce represented by Scottish Chambers International (SCI) and the European Social Fund.

Become a Smart Exporter
Call: 0800 019 1953
email enquiries@smartexporter.co.uk


Visit the Smart Exporter website for further information.