UK Trade and Investment are hosting a special free event for local engineering firms to learn of growth opportunities through exporting in 2012. Speakers will include Lord Digby Jones and speakers representing UK Aerospace International Strategy and Oil & Gas Exploration.

Date and time: 21st March 2012, Cedar Court Hotel, Wakefield.

Click here for further details and registration information.

Yorkshire businesses wishing to ramp up overseas sales are being offered the opportunity to pick up top tips from an export expert at a special Chamber International briefing next month in Leeds.

“Increase your export business” is an upcoming half-day briefing for companies hungry to develop business abroad. It gives a powerful insight into such things as the marketing approach needed as well as pricing and how to successfully use brands in foreign markets.

It will give companies the inside track on effective international market research and whether you should choose agents or distributors as your best route to market. It will also advise on how to arrange the best credit insurance and the importance of local legislation and regulations

The briefing, which is supported by Deloitte LLP, is being run by acclaimed businessman Neil Park. Before setting up his own business Neil was in charge of strategy, sales, budgeting and planning for an OEM Yorkshire lighting manufacturer. Under his guidance the firm expanded its global presence from 36 to 52 countries and pushed up overseas sales by a staggering 150 per cent in just two years.

See here for more details.

Leafseat: Rising Stars clients

LeafSeat, an exciting business being assisted under the Rising Stars programme, has been featured in today’s Telegraph and Argus newspaper. See here for the article, or go to the company’s website to find out about the innovative new product LeafSeat provide.

The Bradford Chamber of Commerce is offering free training sessions for those interested in becoming enterprise mentors. For those interested in taking advantage of this time-limited offer, see this information document for dates, or alternatively call 01274 230050.

The Telegraph and Argus is running its annual Bradford Means Business awards. Local businesses and entrepreneurs stand to gain great recognition for their success by entering. There exist 11 different categories for which awards will be issued; see the T&A website for more details. The closing date for applicants is Wednesday, February the 29th.

Professor John Smith, European Purchasing Director of Ford Motor Company, addresses the BAMA members.

Here are some of the Rising Stars clients appearing at the latest Bradford and Airedale Manufacturing Alliance (BAMA) event on Thursday 19^th January 2012 in Bradford’s Cedar Court Hotel.

Laura McCartney of Nurture4Growth (left)

Laura McCartney of Nurture4Growth specialises in providing business improvement and management training to manufacturers.

The Designing Demand team, part of the Design Council

The Designing Demand team offer a mentoring service for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK. It helps businesses with an appetite for growth discover how to become more innovative, more competitive and more profitable. Management teams are led through a practical-based process that helps them to understand how design, used well, can be a strategic and effective tool to boost performance, open new markets, cut costs and reduce risk.

Dalton Mills, Keighley

The UK’s second Fab Lab is set to become operational on the 28th of March in Keighley’s Dalton Mills. This rapid prototyping facility, funded through Bradford Council and ERDF support, will offer local SMEs the ability to turn their concepts into reality.

Contact the Airedale Fab Lab or Bradford and Airedale Manufacturing Alliance for more information about this exciting new facility, or see here for information about the launch event.

For more information about upcoming business events in the Bradford area, see our events page.

Rising Stars adviser Thomas Knight has assisted Khan Bazaar entrepreneurs Fozia and Irfan to launch their new online enterprise.

The story has featured in the Telegraph and Argus and the Yorkshire Post to date. Please see here to read more on this exciting business venture.

Today’s emerging markets, tomorrow’s opportunities. Discover the importance of the global shift in Advanced Engineering opportunities.

As growth shifts from domestic and European markets, Yorkshire and the Humber’s Advanced Engineering companies must explore new opportunities in the emerging markets.

Demand led by Brazil, Russia, India and China is buoyant for regional companies who are exporting direct to, or participating in the supply chains of larger OEM’s, who supply the emerging markets.

With help from UK Trade & Investment and its global network of sector and market specialists, learn how to break into these emerging markets and discover opportunities that can extend your global reach.

Presented by Key note address Lord Digby Jones and UKTI Advanced Engineering specialists, this free to attend one day event will help your company take the next steps in developing a strategy for future growth.

You will be able to attend up to 3 specialist workshops focussing on Opportunities in Russia, the UK Aerospace Strategy 2012, High Value Opportunities and Oil & Gas Exploration summary 2020.

Key Note Speaker

Ex Minister for Trade and Investment and former CBI Director General, Lord Digby Jones will highlight how regional manufacturers must explore new opportunities in the emerging markets and ensure they add value as they can no longer be reliant on their traditional markets.

Plenary Sessions

UK Aerospace International Strategy 2012

An outline of the major opportunities for UK Aerospace in International markets and recommendations on how these opportunities should be approached during the next 12-18 months. You will receive a copy of the report outlining Civil, Defence and Rotary wing and Unmanned Aircraft worldwide programmes through to 2020.

Oil & Gas Exploration 2020

In conjunction with Energy Industries Council (EIC) the session will outline a Global summary of Oil and Gas exploration activity going through to 2020. The workshop will provide information on Global Upstream Prospects, Planned Investment and Future projects worldwide. You will have the opportunity to receive a free copy of this summary.

Advanced Engineering Opportunities in Russia

The session will cover the routes to markets for UK companies within Aerospace, Automotive and Advanced Engineering companies in Russia. The ‘Opportunities for Advanced Engineering in Russia’ report will be launched in March 2012 and you will have the opportunity to receive a free copy of the report.

High Value Opportunities

The session will outline several of the £1bn+ High Value

Opportunity projects relating to the Engineering sector and provide companies with information on how to follow these up.

Date and time

Wednesday 21st March 2012, 9:30am – 3:00pm

Venue

For more information or to register your free place, visit www.advancedengineeringexports.com.

Contrary to what many people think, manufacturing in the UK is alive and well. Innovative businesses – small and large – are growing.  And design is key to that success. But many manufacturers could be using design better.

Design and manufacturing

Design can help commercialise new technology, grow our advanced manufacturing base, exploit the UK’s strengths and accelerate exports to a world market. So why, and how, should you invest in design – and use it more strategically?

Watch the full interview here.