Global North East
Date published:
Our work for a more Global North East aims to build on the region’s long history of excelling in international trade. The Chamber prides itself on supporting companies to make the most of opportunities across the world and to overcome any obstacles that new markets or trade disturbances present to businesses.
This work in the past year has been incredibly challenging, with COVID-19 bringing international trade and travel to a halt, and the UK’s departure from the European Union, culminating on January 1st 2021, presenting huge challenges to businesses.
Despite these obstacles, we have continued to provide businesses with the support they need. We have provided knowledge and expertise to businesses engaged with international trade, such as during our Brexit Support Week, allowing businesses to prepare for the end of the UK-EU transition period.
Our support has continued throughout this year too, with businesses able to contact the Chamber to receive expert advice on all manner of issues relating to international trade, including the new UK-EU relationship. This support has meant that our members can continue to trade with our biggest partner with confidence. The international trade team has also recruited additional staff to cope with demand.
We have constantly been representing the interests and concerns of our members. When our business members told us the challenges that they were facing because of Brexit, we put them straight to government. The Chamber has also been vocal on the issues in the logistics sector, disrupting businesses from transporting the goods that they need.
The Chamber, together with its Department of International Trade partner, has also provided its members with opportunities to grow their businesses with virtual trade missions and webinars on how to begin exporting.
One member which is having particular success in the marketplace is Canford Audio.
Canford serves a diverse, global customer base from its headquarters in Washington, Tyne & Wear. The £17m turnover business specialises in the manufacture and distribution of broadcast solutions, supplying technical equipment for the world’s most prestigious live broadcast events. Distributed over nine European countries, Canford manufactured connection panels were integral to the successful broadcast of Euro 2020. Broadcast to an estimated live audience of 4.7 billion. Every kick passed through Canford equipment, installed within Technical Operation Centres providing signal monitoring, technical quality control and content distribution to broadcast partners.
Canford has established itself as ‘the supplier of choice’ in its market. The company has a reputation for high-quality, precision made product. This has seen an increasing number of leading providers of complex broadcast, facilities and production services turning to Canford for robust and reliable, mission critical components. Approximately 40% of its revenue is derived from international sales, with goods shipping to clients in over 185 countries.
Stephen Gallagher, Canford Marketing Manager explains: “Throughout its entire 45 years, Canford has always invested in its export business. Perhaps most noticeably with our multi-lingual team of international account managers, and our experienced Shipping Department. The team ensures that we are able to support overseas clients with rapid and safe deliveries. We take as much of the hassle out of the process as possible for our customers. This includes all of the necessary, complex documents. These include Certificates of Origin that are certified and approved for customs by our local Chamber of Commerce, conveniently located just under 10 miles away from our headquarters in Washington.”