ALMOST 1,500 Yorkshire companies have been helped to get a foothold in overseas markets during the first quarter of 2009.
Independent figures show that they are among 20,700 firms across the country who received help from the Government’s UK Trade & Investment export support arm.
UKTI support for firms on trade missions during the quarter helped to generate profits of about £3.6bn.
Figures compiled for the Performance and Impact Monitoring Survey showed that while firms assisted by UKTI said the global economic downturn had affected their businesses, some 51% were experiencing increasing demand from abroad.
It said UKTI had shot past its target of helping 20,000 businesses in past 12 months. Some 20,700 UK firms received “significant assistance” from UKTI – up by 1,400 on the previous year.
UKTI customers – mostly small and medium-sized businesses – estimated that UKTI helped them to generate £3.6bn in extra profits, up from £3bn last time.
Changes which came into effect this month mean UKTI can offer more help to UK businesses.
UKTI doubled the number of grants that businesses can receive to take part in trade shows abroad – enabling Yorkshire firms to attend events in key markets such as Dubai, Brazil and Beijing.
