International Trade
Helping you expand your business into international markets.
Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership can signpost you to the information and advisory services you need to achieve export growth and 'internationalise' your products and service offering.
Working with key partners such as the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), our network of international trade services and advisors help local firms fulfil their global market ambitions, with support at every stage of the business development planning process.
Whether you are a seasoned exporter or just beginning to expand your business into international markets, these services can help you maximise your business capabilities and widen the reach of your products, including how to identify and solve logistical, goods handling, fulfilment and returns implications.
Your business can have access to tailored support programmes and the latest market data, or you can attend trade fairs or export trade missions. You can also obtain valuable advice on export documentation, relevant financial subsidies and key contacts in overseas markets.
Cumbria has also benefited from the knowledge, experience and enthusiasm that its Export Champions have brought to other businesses considering exporting for the first time or those looking to develop their offer further.
Download: CLEP Report: Internationalisation Strategy [March 2023] (PDF, 1.8MB)
For more information on how to trade internationally, please get in touch with Sarah Peak, Trade Partnership Manager: sarah.peak@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
There are a number of support organisations listed below which may be able to offer you appropriate advice, guidance and support for international trade:
sarah
- Export advice from Government
Information on exporting and doing business abroad, including getting an EORI number, taking goods temporarily out of the UK and taking goods with you to sell abroad. - Department for Business and Trade (DBT)
A network of trade specialists who can support you in finding international customers by helping you prepare for a trade show or overseas market visit or arranging introductions to potential buyers, agents and distributors. - Department for Business and Trade's (DBT) E-Exporting Programme
Help for UK retailers and brands to export overseas via e-commerce and to sell products or services to millions of global consumers, growing their business through online exports. - International Trade
Advice for those new to exporting, selling abroad occasionally, and timesaving online tools and services for experienced exporters. - New to exporting
Outlining the benefits of selling overseas, how to get ready to trade internationally and researching and identifying your target markets. - Online Selling Overseas
Platform from which to find online marketplaces and reach over 2 billion consumers online around the world, with exclusive deals negotiated on behalf of UK businesses. - Export Finance
Helping exporters win contracts with attractive financing terms for buyers of UK goods and services to help exporters make their offering more competitive. - Find a Buyer Overseas
Access to a free great.gov.uk trade profile to let international buyers get in touch with your company, showcase your projects and experience and help give your business international credibility. - Federation of Small Business
Working with the Department for Business and Trade to help more small businesses, especially start-ups and younger businesses, to export, matching individual businesses to interested overseas customers and campaigning to ensure that small businesses have simple access to European markets. - British Chambers of Commerce
Working closely with its foreign counterparts, Governments and British exporters all over the world to open up extensive international networks for international trade. - Institute of Directors
Strategic export advice and support to help break into new markets, as well as generating more sales, better profits and a greater spread of customers.
Business Support Helpline 
0800 069 6444
Export Champions
Oxley Group
The Oxley Group has had wide scale success in exporting and has developed a strong international presence, sales outside of the UK accounted for 80% of turnover in 2020 and cover 34 countries across the world. Oxley has an active overseas growth strategy and is currently developing new business in Turkey, Korea, Japan and Brazil.
Export Champions
Playdale Playgrounds
Playdale Playgrounds is the largest UK manufacturer of outdoor children’s playground equipment. Today, Playdale have a presence in 50 countries through 38 distributers spanning the globe and 50% of their manufactured product is going abroad. Exporting has grown the business in many ways in a period when the UK market has contracted by circa 40%.
Export Champions
Hawkshead Relish
Supplying over 500 independent stores throughout the UK with the Hawkshead Relish brand, they also produce a growing range of products for private label production. Whilst the company’s main customer base is within the UK, their exports are taking off with the main markets being in Sweden, USA, Germany and around 10 other countries worldwide.
Export Champions
Clark Door
Clark Door was awarded the Queen’s Award for International Trade 2020 having gone from virtually no exports 10 years ago to international trade representing 50% of the business. The company now exports to over 45 countries worldwide, working on prestigious projects with some of the world’s most eminent architects.
Export Champions
James Walker
James Walker manufactures and supplies high performance sealing products, as well as offering on-site maintenance and installation services across a number of industries. These industries are wide-ranging and the company works in partnership with customers in sectors such as oil and gas, power, pharmaceutical, defence and metallurgical in the UK and overseas.