Businesses urged to take up Trade Show opportunities

Published: December 4th, 2019

Businesses
across the Marches looking to expand their overseas markets are being
urged to take advantage of funding to help them visit international
trade shows.

Grant
funding is available for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in
Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin to meet some of
the cost of attending shows and opening up new export routes.

But
time is running out to take advantage of the support which could be
on offer, with a January 31 2020 deadline now looming.

Paul
Hinkins, chair of the Marches Growth Hub, said the support could play
a vital part in helping businesses develop new overseas markets.

"We
know from experience that trade shows are worth their weight in gold
when it comes to developing contacts and being able to get your
products into new markets.

"There
is funding available through the European Regional Development Fund
to help SMEs with their international growth aspirations, including
visiting or exhibiting at a variety of key international events, but
it needs to be taken up by the end of January 2020.

"The
funding must be used to stimulate new activity, such as exploring new
markets, and there are grants of between £1,000 and £10,000
available subject to specific eligibility criteria."

Companies
must be prepared to spend at least £2,000 – of which around half
would be covered by ERDF – and the funding could be used to
contribute to the cost of flights, accommodation and attending
events.

Some
of the key trade shows which companies could qualify for support to
attend include:

• The
  International Production & Processing Expo in Atlanta, Georgia,
  from January 28-30, 2020 for the agriculture, forestry, food and
  beverages sectors.

• Arab
  Health, UAE, Dubai, from January 27-30, 2020 for medical and pharma
  businesses.

• Texworld
  USA in New York from January 19-21, 2020for the clothing sector.

• Toronto
  Gift Fair in Toronto from January 26-30, 2020 for arts and craft
  businesses.

• The
  London Textile Fair on January 15 and 16 2020 for the clothing
  industry.

• Intersec,
  UAE, Dubai January 19-21, 2020 for IT and Technology.

• Atlanta
  International Gift & Home Furnishings Market, Atlanta, USA, from
  January 14-21, 2020 for the fashion and beauty sector.

To
find out more about the help which is on offer contact the DIT’s
regional ERDF team at [email protected]
or on 0121 6071770.