TRADE with Europe, which offers a market of around 450 million people in countries with a combined GDP of around 15 trillion Euros, is essential in bringing about the continued recovery that businesses in Britain are hoping for, says Nick Lowe, Managing Director of Dachser UK. He believes that if the seeds of recovery are to be nurtured into a sustainable period of economic growth, ensuring that export trade is strongly developed is going to be essential.
TRADE with Europe, which offers a market of around 450 million people in countries with a combined GDP of around 15 trillion Euros, is essential in bringing about the continued recovery that businesses in Britain are hoping for, says Nick Lowe, Managing Director of Dachser UK. He believes that if the seeds of recovery are to be nurtured into a sustainable period of economic growth, ensuring that export trade is strongly developed is going to be essential. When combined with inward investment, the rebalancing of the economy will be achieved and trade and financial deficits reduced to more manageable levels. He cites two initiatives – the website community www.opentoexport.com which is backed by the Department for UK Trade and Investment, and UK Export Finance, which underwrites bank loans offered to buyers of UK exported products – as key to guiding, encouraging and supporting British companies in building a market abroad. “There is a lot of focus on further flung worldwide markets, but the proximity of Europe makes it the most accessible global market we have,” said Nick Lowe. “Of course, any company looking to develop export markets will face differences in cultures and business practices across the various countries and will certainly encounter, even in Europe, technical barriers that will need overcoming. Yet the European market is well established, diverse and, crucially, quite local. “Strong transport links with fast transit times and the lack of customs borders within the EU28 area are all very helpful attributes for the facilitation of export trade.” Mechanical and electrical machinery, medicines and pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals and chemical products, scientific and diagnostic equipment all feature highly on the list of UK exports to Europe these days. Last year saw Dachser open its bespoke logistics centre on the Brackmills Industrial Estate, constructed to its own design and representing a major commitment to the future of the business in the UK in general and Northampton in particular. Speaking about the opening of the new logistics centre, John Goodman, Dachser’s General Manager, Midlands and North, said: “Not only has the opening of our new facility expanded our opportunities to develop more and more business with our existing as well as potential new customers, it has also generated a very high level of interest from our colleagues at our Dachser branches in Europe. For that reason, they are pushing very hard to develop freight business to the UK with their own customers, and this is also very much adding to the volumes of cargo we are now handling.” Dachser UK overall, including its branches in Rochdale and Dartford, saw a 10 per cent increase in sales turnover, shipments and tonnes handled in 2014, and the rate of growth is getting stronger. “There is a certainly a huge opportunity for British exporters to prosper in selling to what is a massive global market – on our doorstep!” added Nick Lowe. For more information about Dachser and their range of UK, European and global logistics services, contact 01604 433100, email or visit the website www.dachser.co.uk