Northern Ireland business gets export boost through Heathrow

Glastry Farm Ice Cream in Northern Ireland is among 20 UK businesses to receive an export boost from Heathrow and the Department for International Trade's 'Exporting is GREAT' Campaign.

Glastry, based on a family farm at Kircubbin in county Down, will receive a funding and support package to encourage it to export its range of ice creams and sorbets to new international markets.

Through the 'World of Opportunity Programme' Heathrow will provide £40,000 for SME trade missions or research into global markets of their choice. Glastry Farm Ice Cream will also have access to the personalised advice of an International Trade Advisor from the Department of International Trade, and a Plaza Premium lounge pass to begin their trip in style as they depart from Heathrow.

The winners of the World Opportunity were announced as a new YouGov survey revealed today that 50 percent of British SMEs which currently export want to increase their export destinations in the next two years until 2019; when Article 50 negotiations are due to complete. A further 41 percent of current exporters want to continue exporting as they are in this timeframe.

Glastry Farm Ice Cream production manager Chloe Burgess said: "We are thrilled to be receiving such a prestigious award as the Heathrow World of Opportunity programme. Our business needs to prove there is life after Brexit and so we are focused on expanding our venture to further afield. Currently we have discovered a potential market for showcasing and selling our products in the United Arab Emirates. Therefore, the grant that we receive will go towards further market research and development of our products to be exported and sold in this market.

"We already use Heathrow Airport regularly via the current Aer Lingus Belfast to Heathrow flight line to attend sales trips and conferences. In a few weeks, we will be travelling to the Speciality Food Fair in London's Olympia via this route for a day of exhibiting our products to the British market were we will be among many of the finest quality food producers in the UK."

The World of Opportunity programme was open from June 16 to July 14 of this year. Over 290 applications were received and the winning entries were chosen by a panel of experts including Heathrow chairman Lord Deighton, DIT's International Trade Advisor Keith Moses and Daily Express small business correspondent, Maisha Frost.

Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye added: "As the UK's gateway to the world and its biggest port by value, Heathrow is essential in getting British goods and services to international markets. From beauty products to beets, snow sport instructors to architects, Heathrow and the Department of International Trade are boosting the growth of a unique mix of British goods and services.

"With the World of Opportunity programme, we are showing the world the breadth of talent and opportunity from all across the nations and regions of the UK. And demonstrating once again, that Britain's gateway is open for business."

International Trade minister Mark Garnier said: "The UK has some of the most innovative and ambitious small businesses that have helped exports increase by 11.4 percent over the last year. It's clear the potential to export our goods and services is out there and as an international economic department, we will support businesses through partner schemes like this with Heathrow and our international campaigns including Exporting is GREAT to make the most of opportunities as we leave the EU."

The 'World of Opportunity Programme' is part of a plan to guarantee British businesses benefit from the economic opportunities provided by Heathrow, the UK's only hub airport. In addition to this Programme, for the past 20 years Heathrow has run a successful series of Business Summits, giving SMEs the opportunity to engage directly with members of the airport's supply chain and find out more about the opportunities that exist at the airport and around the world. So far, an estimated £93.4 million of new deals have been won as a result of the partnerships formed at the Summits and 2017 marks the first year where Heathrow's Business Summits have been rolled out across six UK regions.

Heathrow connects international tourists and markets from 190 destinations, with the best that our British businesses have to offer.