NORTH-EAST businesses will be given extra support with exporting after the region’s UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) team in has appointed two new advisors to help mid-sized firms.

Jonathan Gamblin and Chris Graham have been appointed mid-sized business (MSB) international trade advisers to support and help firms with an annual turnover between £25m and £500m.

The pair will work on UKTI’s MSB Programme, which is a new scheme focussing on mid-size firms as part of the national drive to increase exports.

Mr Gamblin, 47, from Billingham, Teesside, has more than 25 years of international trade experience in worldwide markets with companies both large and small, including multi-national organisations such as Lafarge and Saint Gobain.

Mr Graham, 57, from Chester-le-Street, County Durham, has more than 30 years of experience in commercial law and commercial management working for a range of globally-based blue chip companies in the high-tech engineering and chemical sectors including Rolls Royce, VA Tech and Huntsman.

David Coppock, UKTI’s Regional Director for the North East, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Jonathan and Chris to the team. They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience and are keen to work with the region’s MSBs as they take up the export for growth challenge.

“Our export performance continues to be strong, with more than £14.125 billion worth of goods and services exported in the last year. But we need to continue to build on that achievement, MSBs will play a key part in our future success and I would encourage them to get in touch to find out how we can help.”

For more information about services provided by UKTI, call 0845-05-05-054 or email enquiries@uktinortheast.org.uk.