Business bosses interested in exporting heard what other companies are doing to sell their products abroad at an event in Huddersfield.

Huddersfield Town Enterprise Academy (HTEA) staged an international business breakfast with Kirklees College and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) at the college’s Landings 72 restaurant.

They heard from a panel of experts drawn from companies in Kirklees and Calderdale which are already successfully exporting their products.

The event follows a call for Kirklees firms to make a “concerted effort” to boost Yorkshire’s export performance after the region enjoyed a “solid year of export consolidation” in 2014.

Mark Robson, regional director of UKTI, made the call after figures from HM Revenue & Customs showed that total exports for Yorkshire and the Humber were worth almost £17bn in 2014 as a whole – the region’s second highest annual tally ever recorded on the back of a bumper 2013.

The final value of £16.95bn is down from the record £17.4bn posted in 2013 – but there were significant gains in the value of exports to the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa and Western Europe compared with 2013. There were marginal declinss in North America, including the USA, and the European Union.

But Mr Robson said: “The year-end values for 2014 are largely positive in the context of the ongoing uncertainty and economic challenges in the Eurozone.

“It was essentially a year of consolidation after a hugely encouraging 2013, and although we have taken a slight backwards step on the face of it, we still have a solid base to build from as global economies continue to recover.

“The challenge we face in the new financial year ahead is to ensure we are poised to capitalise on opportunities as they emerge, which may require local companies to look beyond the traditional markets where they already have a presence.”

He said: ““Europe remains our biggest market and is the obvious go-to region for many to tackle first, but you shouldn’t be deterred from seeing what lies beyond.”

Panel members at the Huddersfield event were Richard Kaye, of household appliances manufacturer Fired Up Group at Longroyd Bridge; Mark Young, of John Walton (Machine Tools) Ltd, Brighouse; Richard Paxman, of Paxman Coolers at Fenay Bridge; David Biggin, of Birstall-based Future Forwarding; Neil Smith, of Aspley-based sealants and adhesives firm Polyseam; and Joanna Lavan, of ConnectChina in Batley.

Mr Kaye said his company had begun exporting 10 years ago when the firm found it’s turnover was stable, but its profits were shrinking.

“There is no one size fits all,” he said. “If you’ve got a product and market in mind speak to somebody on the ground in that country who can give you some true advice on whether or not it is likely to work.”

Ms Lavan said it was important to do thorough research before considering exporting. “Get out in to the market and see face-to-face what is happening,” she said. “You also need to look at more of a medium to long-term strategy as it won’t all happen quickly. You need to keep hammering away.”

Huddersfield Town commercial director Sean Jarvis, who facilitated the event, said: “These companies are doing a fantastic job for our area by being successful around the world and long may that continue.”

Kirklees College commercial manager Jason Taylor said: “Through hosting the HTEA events, Kirklees College has gained a reputation as an important venue for bringing business people together and it has given us the opportunity to show what the college has to offer local employers.”