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Heathrow and the DIT launches ‘World of Opportunity’ Grant for SMEs in the North East

ByDave Stopher

Jun 27, 2018
  • For a second year running, Heathrow partners with the Department for International Trade’s (DIT) Exporting is GREAT campaign to launch £40,000 grant, supporting SME exporting ambitions
  • ‘World of Opportunity Programme’ is accepting applications from June 8th until July 6th 2018
  • Middlesbrough-based business ‘Tomlinson Hall’ won one of last year’s grants to fund trade missions and foreign market research

For the second year running, Heathrow and the Department for International Trade’s ‘Exporting is GREAT’ campaign are giving a boost to 20 Exporters looking to reach new long-haul markets, for their goods or services.

The ‘World of Opportunity Programme’ will award 20 SMEs with grants worth £2,000 to fund vital trade missions, participation in trade shows or foreign market research. DIT will once again support each winner to help their research and missions and promote the competition. Plaza Premium will also be providing complimentary lounge passes for the winners as they leave Heathrow on their journeys.

A panel of exporting experts including Lord Deighton, Heathrow’s Chairman and Parveen Thornhill, Head of London & Devolved Administrations from DIT will select this year’s winners.

The first ’World of Opportunity Programme‘ received over 290 applications from SMEs across the country and the programme is expected to remain as competitive this year. In order to win one of the coveted 20 grants, successful applicants will be asked to demonstrate why their business is suitable to expand their export capability as well as outline why they have identified their target overseas market.

The ‘World of Opportunity Programme’ is part of Heathrow’s plan to ensure British businesses benefit from the economic opportunities the airport provides as the UK’s only hub airport and the country’s biggest port by value.

Heathrow Chairman, Lord Deighton said:

 “We are delighted to open the World of Opportunity SME Grants Programme for the second year in a row, in partnership with the Department for International Trade and supporting the ‘Exporting is GREAT’ Campaign. 

“Last year, we helped a wonderful range of British exporters – from beauty products to specialist tyres and snow sport instructors to architects – from all across the nations and regions of the UK. We helped them explore new markets, progress their exporting ambitions and look forward to helping more SMEs this year. These SMEs are showing the world that the UK is open for business – and I am confident this year’s winners will be just as impressive.”

Colin Simpson, business development director at Tomlinson Hall, said:

“Our business is nearly 100 years old, and we have vast expertise in the pump industry. This month, we’re sending a strong delegation to ACHEMA in Frankfurt – it’s a leading trade show for the pump and process industry. Our World of Opportunity grant from Heathrow has helped make this happen – meaning we can open more doors to global distribution contacts.”

International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox MP said:

“Last year’s World of Opportunity Programme was enormously successful, helping to generate tens of thousands of pounds of business for SMEs from across the UK.

“There is significant demand for UK goods and services across the globe, and my international economic department is here to support businesses of all sizes as they look to seize the wealth of opportunities available.”