Export orders on the rise for manufacturers

An award-winning shipping company has welcomed new figures which show that Britain's small manufacturers are enjoying the fastest growth in export orders in more than a decade. 

Telford-based Global Freight says the national figures mirror its own experience working with SMEs. 

The figures – contained in the Confederation of British Industry’s quarterly poll of small and medium-sized manufacturers – show that the UK’s economy remained fairly flat in the first three months of the year. 

But whilst domestic demand was restrained, export orders had increased by the highest rate in the survey’s ten-year history. 

Nicole Gunter (pictured), managing director of Global Freight, said the figures reflected an increased drive by small manufacturers to tap into new markets in the wake of Brexit. 

“We have been working closely with a range of smaller businesses to help them make the most of the opportunities that have arisen in the wake of Brexit in terms of breaking into new markets. 

“These new figures show that companies are going out and exploring these new markets and developing their export books as a result. 

“This is not just about big companies securing multi-million export orders, but about smaller firms picking up on the chance to win new business around the globe. Some of these orders may be relatively small, but they are a vital part of ensuring our small businesses can succeed post Brexit. 

“We have done a lot of work as a company to help ensure we can add value to the export process for our small manufacturers and it is pleasing to see this starting to bear fruit.” 

Global Freight was named Shropshire Small Business of the Year in 2010 and is now an established expert in the movement of goods across the globe.