International trade team grows

The international trade team, based at Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, has welcomed two more expert advisers.

David Caine is a food and drink industry specialist, with a brief to help companies across the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership area.

And Robert Rowlands is a regional international trade adviser and e-commerce specialist, who will be working with companies right across the West Midlands.

Ruth Ross, Shropshire Chamber’s director of business, said: “We’re delighted to be able to welcome David and Robert to the team as we enter a pivotal few weeks for international trade. As part of their roles, they will be staging a series of virtual events in the coming weeks to share knowledge and advice in their specialist areas, as well as offering one-to-one sessions for Shropshire companies.

“It’s now just a matter of days until the UK officially leaves the European Union, so this is going to be a crucial time for international traders, and a busy few weeks for the team.

“Our export documentation and customs declaration specialists have been working hard to make sure businesses are fully prepared for the changes that are coming when we transition out of the EU. They have been delivering free countdown webinars, run by the British Chambers of Commerce, to explain the implications in great detail – and have more sessions planned.”

The Department for International Trade is the Government department tasked with helping UK companies grow their export sales.

The Shropshire DIT team, based at the Chamber’s offices, supports local businesses by offering account management and advice from experienced advisers. They provide local businesses of any size or export experience with free support, and access to a range of Government-backed services.

David and Robert’s roles have been made possible through increased funding from the DIT as part of the Government’s levelling-up agenda. Their focus is aligned to strategic priority sectors and areas of high growth potential for businesses across the region.

Pictured: David Caine and Robert Rowlands