30th Export Ambassador recruited as Leeds City Region overseas trade interest soars

1.10.13

TWO new export ambassadors have been appointed for Leeds City Region’s We are International campaign, bringing the total to 30.

They are chief executive of Europlus Direct and One Global, Yeadon, Jim Hart, whose business has won two Queen’s Awards for International Trade, and founder and senior partner of commercial law firm, Shulmans, Leeds, Jeremy Shulman.

They join a fast-growing network of export ambassadors, selected from among Leeds City Region’s top exporting companies, to provide hands-on help and mentoring to new exporters and businesses wanting to break into new overseas markets.

The export network is a key element of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership’s We are International campaign. The initiative – delivered in partnership with international trade specialists Chamber International, UKTI Yorkshire and Humber, Enterprise Europe Network and MY Export Hub – aims to add £1.6bn to the City Region economy and create thousands of jobs during the next five years.

Jim Hart says: “About 90 per cent of businesses have potential to trade internationally and doing so can change their business for the better and provide greater stability. I’m delighted to be invited to be involved in the We are International initiative. I live and breathe international trade and I have plenty of experience which I’m happy to share.”

Jeremy Shulman says: “I’m thrilled to have been appointed an export ambassador. I’ve got 27 years’ legal experience in international trade which has covered virtually every sector and country.

“I’ll do the very best as I can to support Leeds City Region’s new exporters and am happy to help any business. My view is that there are particular opportunities for SME manufacturers. Shulman’s is part of the Interlegal international network of law firms and, where appropriate, I’ll be able to bring overseas partners in to assist.”

We are International Export ambassador network, lead ambassador, Eric Hawthorn, managing director of Radio Design, Shipley, and a member of the LEP’s Business Innovation and Growth Panel says: “The Export Network is about connecting potential exporters both with the professional support and, critically, with businesspeople who have direct experience of exporting and can pass on what they have learned to other businesses.

“Both Jeremy and Jim bring a wealth of experience, and will make excellent ambassadors. With their backgrounds in law and international recruitment and translation respectively, they’ll be particularly well placed to advise on some of the key practical issues that many companies have told us they find a barrier to trading internationally.”

Image: Eric Hawthorn, MD of Radio Design and LEP Business, Innovation and Growth Panel member with 30th export ambassador, Jim Hart