Call for young talent to unlock region's export success

23.02.15

An export expert has urged more businesses across the Leeds City Region to encourage younger people to play a central role in developing international trade links and driving growth.

Victoria Boldison is a Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) export ambassador, part of the organisation’s We are International campaign.

And the 30-year-old believes the “dynamism and drive” offered by young talent is key to fostering overseas business relationships.

The international brand controller at Skipton-based Principle Healthcare is playing a key role in the vitamin, minerals and supplements producer’s overseas growth, including in Europe and the Middle East.

Multi-lingual Miss Boldison applauded the work being carried out through the We are International campaign, an initiative that aims to de-mystify exporting and help more companies across the Leeds City Region realise the immense business opportunities of international trade.

And acknowledging that many companies have invested in young talent she said: “In my experience exporting is an extremely exciting opportunity for organisations across the Leeds City Region to access new markets and grow their businesses. Given the continuing economic recovery international trade opportunities are very encouraging.

“Exporting also offers a tremendous opportunity for younger people to travel, improve their skills and learn new languages.

“People often talk about barriers to international trade. Having spoken to many international businesses, these are often perceived to be because those at UK companies struggle to build relationships with operators overseas.

“In the digital age we live in, including social media platforms, and with many organisations in global markets being run by a new generation of entrepreneurs, it makes sense to enable a younger generation to foster the links that are going to give long-term returns and employ those with the enthusiasm and passion to learn new skills.”

Leeds-born Miss Boldison runs a team of staff at Principle Healthcare, many of whom are aged under 25, who are active in markets including Holland, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates.

And this strategy is reaping rewards with Principle Healthcare having been shortlisted for the final of an awards programme, decided by a public vote, run as part of the Government’s Business is Great Britain campaign which showcases the very best of what Britain has to offer to the world.

Roger Marsh, chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, said: “The Leeds City Region boasts a huge array of talented people across the age spectrum who operate in the international arena.

“Principle Healthcare is a great example of a Yorkshire business that has built on this approach by evolving its already successful overseas strategy to train and develop a pool of talented younger people who not only fantastic ambassadors for the company, and the wider Yorkshire region, internationally but are contributing to its success.”

For further information on the We are International initiative visit www.weareinternational.co.uk