IOE Director General Invited onto Panel at FT's Exporting Seminar

Fri 5 Jul 2013
Posted by: IOE News
IOE News

Media interest in the IOE continues unabated with the Financial Times inviting our Director General Lesley Batchelor to speak at their high profile ‘Driving Exports’ breakfast seminar on September 3 in London.

The briefing, subtitled ’Unlocking new markets and invigorating existing ones’ will bring together an invited audience of 60 leaders from the UK’s manufacturing sector to gain a snapshot of the current export landscape.

Lesley will join Nick Baird the CEO of UKT&I on an expert panel of senior figures from UK business organisations and major corporates.  Chaired by FT UK Business Editor Brian Groom, the event is expected to include a senior government official as a keynote speaker.

The invitation only event, being organised in association with BAE Systems, will examine several key exporting issues including:

  • Where are the UK’s export hot spots?
  • What must UK businesses do to win the high value opportunities in overseas markets?
  • What are the main barriers to export growth?
  • Knowledge and skills transfer

The event organisers say: “With weak growth at home, UK companies are being encouraged to export more – for their own sakes, as well as to help strengthen the backbone of the UK economy. But, with the global view continuing to look rather bleak, both within the Eurozone and further afield, this is a far from easy task. Where then, are the growth markets – and how can UK exporters seize the opportunities they present? And what can the UK offer countries that wish to industrialize, but on their own terms?”

As well providing a bird’s eye view of the current export landscape, this FT Strategic Breakfast Briefing, will look at what UK businesses must do to improve performance overseas and secure the high-value contracts in the very competitive markets of the emerging world. And it will also discuss what companies might have to do differently in order to invigorate their traditional export markets.

Lesley Batchelor says: “It’s a real privilege to be asked to take part in such a high level discussion for policy makers and senior level executives from UK industry.  My invitation to be on the panel of this prestigious event recognises the expertise and standing of the IOE and its members in driving export growth and raising standards of professionalism in international trade.”

For more information about the IOE’s work, including membership and our professional qualifications, contact us on 01733 404400.  You can follow us on Twitter @LesleyIOExport and @IOExport.