Road to China : What is an Export?

Director of Emerald Business Communications Sarah Windrum recently represented UK technology on a UKTI Trade Mission to China. And she documented her experiences both building up to and on the trip itself in a series of short blogs!

As an SME that offers a service-based solution, exporting to China probably doesn’t seem like a step that makes logical sense. So why am I investing Emerald’s resources into such a venture? And can a business to business service truly be an export?

As with all great stories, there are many players on Emerald’s road to China. I first attended a UKTI webinar on the Technology is GREAT campaign, having been invited on it by the Chamber of Commerce. The trade mission to China sparked my interest because there was a particular focus on construction and logistics which are two sectors we work extensively with in the UK. Both sectors have field based teams they need to be in constant communication with and a heavy focus on cost management which is where our services are most valuable.

I contacted our local MP Chris White who put me in touch with our West Midlands UKTI representatives (you see how the players are growing!) and this is where the puzzle of what makes an export was finally solved for me. Because I believed (incorrectly!) that if I manufactured a mug in the UK and then I sold that mug abroad that was what constituted an UK export. Kati Hope, from West Midlands UKTI, was quick to correct me, telling me the largest percentage of businesses they work with on the Passport to Export programme are in the service industry. And I know Emerald provide the highest level of service for mobile communications in the UK so why not explore the opportunity to export that globally?

As they say, nothing ventured nothing gained so I filled out the form for the trade mission to China. And along with eight other businesses I secured a place. And that is where the fun really begins! Because having realised I could export, I needed to find out how …

This was first published in 2016