E2E 100: It’s time we begin shouting about Model Britain

Plainly at any time when we speak about worldwide commerce within the UK our complete outlook hinges, like a caught report, on Brexit. However let’s bear in mind that there’s a complete world of potential commerce companions on the market, and it’s time we enterprise homeowners embraced the alternatives.

As a enterprise proprietor and Chair of the West Midlands India Partnership, I’ve spent loads of time as a part of worldwide delegations. My firm, Lioncroft Wholesale and my earlier household enterprise East Finish Meals, is properly versed within the means of importing and exporting items. It’s, in any case, the inspiration of our enterprise. We started introducing meals from India to the UK over 50 years in the past. Now, exporting to Europe, the Center East and past is an important and pivotal a part of our success.

That’s to not say that we haven’t confronted challenges. However, by adapting our outlook we’ve thrived. Within the early years, the standard of the products imported into the UK couldn’t attain the requirements required by the UK market. Our resolution was to spend money on our personal manufacturing gear to wash and bundle components in home.

Later, as multiples turned extra widespread, we created our Retail Membership, supporting small independents to develop their gross sales. And now, with Brexit altering the horizon once more, we, together with all SME and proprietor led companies, have to adapt as soon as extra.

Give us the instruments and we’ll do the work.

That’s to not dismiss the influence Brexit has had. On a sensible degree, the method of exportation is now much more advanced, actually as far as transporting items to Europe is anxious. The largest problem for companies at the moment shouldn’t be one in every of high quality or competitors or altering applied sciences. As an alternative, companies face drowning in a deluge of paperwork and documentation.

Within the final three years we’ve had a while to wade alongside the paper river till it’s extra of a nuisance than the large tsunami of confusion that we first skilled. Bigger companies little question have constructed a bridge of processes that allow them to hurry up the doc path, throwing a number of sources and departments at it.

However for the SME or proprietor managed enterprise, the duty of exporting their items stays a problem. What they want is extra time and extra assist. Properly, no; what they want is obvious course of and polices from the federal government. However whereas that is still a seemingly distant prospect, for now assist, time and recommendation must suffice.

It’s estimated that 9% of SMEs within the UK export, with an extra 15% being a part of the provision chain for a enterprise that exports.1 As has been mentioned earlier than, SME companies are the lifeblood of our economic system. Supporting them to develop and succeed helps us all. It’s important that authorities and the British Chambers of Commerce work collectively to assist these companies develop procedures and methods of export, simplifying the way in which they function. It’s a quite simple equation. Rising export gross sales development and worldwide commerce will increase GDP and helps the economic system to develop.

So sure, I feel we are able to all agree that Brexit has made exporting items tougher. However not insurmountable. That’s why it’s fantastic to see the E2E Worldwide Prime 100 exporting efficiently worldwide and flying the flag for UK enterprise.

Merchandise, companies and other people powering development.

If you focus solely on the press, it’s simple to overlook that there’s large demand for UK services all over the world. Britain is a model in itself and, from my very own expertise, extremely regarded for integrity and high quality. Now we have robust relationships throughout many international locations exterior of Europe, primarily based on shared historical past, Commonwealth ties and mutual respect.

Take, for instance, the continuing negotiations of the excellent UK-India Free Commerce Settlement, at the moment continuing by means of the winding pathway of presidency. I’m carefully watching the progress of the settlement, and never simply due to our personal lengthy historical past of mutually profitable commerce within the area, however as a result of at the moment India is likely one of the quickest rising economies on the earth and estimated to be the third largest by 2030.

The federal government are rightly centered on creating a robust, mutually helpful bilateral commerce settlement. In 2022 the UK exported £15.1 billion in items and companies to India, making them our twelfth largest buying and selling associate. 2

In doing so, they’ve recognised the worth in our shared background, having made specific point out of the ties between individuals throughout the 2 international locations, “fostered by the dwelling bridge of 1.6 million robust Indian diaspora within the UK”.2

India poses simply one of many many alternatives for British exports. In 2022, £24.8bn was exported worldwide within the meals and drinks business alone, of which Lioncroft performs an element by buying and selling with many international locations globally.

Because of this, we’re certain to advocate the significance of pushing British wares all all over the world. And we’re not alone. We’re proud to see companies like these within the  E2E Worldwide efficiently navigating and succeeding in worldwide commerce throughout a spread of industries. Absolutely, it’s clear that the marketplace for our homegrown manufacturers is on the market.

A proud, unbiased island nation

It’s time we enterprise homeowners alter the way in which we take a look at the world; not part of a mixed European shopping for energy, however a robust, unbiased and globally recognised island nation.

Different international locations already see us. And it’s these relationships we construct now that make future commerce a hit.

The variety of worldwide college students coming to Britain has elevated by 12.3%, hitting the 600,000 goal a decade early.3  Finding out right here creates a bond that every pupil takes residence with them, making future enterprise with the UK extra pure.

In addition to the potential for expert workforce to maneuver into the UK, our executives are travelling additional  to guide companies globally. With the growing motion of individuals, we forge stronger ties and relationships throughout the globe, opening new channels and alternatives.

We’re not simply trying by means of rose-coloured glasses. The West Midlands India Partnership sees these mutually helpful  relationships in observe, as we actively assist long-term financial development within the area by enhancing hyperlinks with corporations in India. Not solely is worldwide commerce growing, however we see British companies embracing the advantages of coaching and constructing companies in India.

Brexit was three years in the past. It’s time to look forward and fly the flag for Model Britain. Sure, we have to construct robust relationships with Europe once more, however as an island nation we are able to construct these relationships differently, embracing our new panorama.

To flourish, we have to be trying past Europe, opening ourselves as much as the world. We’ve obtained lots to promote. Model Britain is robust and in demand – we simply want the insurance policies in place to assist all of our companies, SME and enormous companies, equally. Profitable commerce and a rising economic system are in sight.

You possibly can view the whole E2E Worldwide 100 observe right here

Editorial Notes;

Dr Jason Wouhra O.B.E.

Lioncroft Wholesale Restricted