Barrow’s MP has praised a visit from a delegation of the Board of Trade members as successful and historic.
The Board of Trade, headed up by the Secretary of State for the Department for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan and with members including top civil servants, former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot, Peers, the Lord Mayor of London, and top Government ministers, spent two days touring Barrow and Furness.
Barrow’s BAE Systems hosted the Board of Trade’s official meeting.
The tour began with the caucus calling on Associated British Ports on Tuesday evening. From there, a group of business leaders, officials, council staff, and others joined the delegation for a reception in Barrow Town Hall’s banqueting hall.
Lindal-based Wax Lyrical were present alongside other Cumbrian traders to showcase their products as part of the ‘Made in Cumbria, Sold to the World’ roadshow.
On Wednesday, the Board of Trade meeting was held at BAE Systems, before a tour of the shipyard, and later a visit to Oxley in Ulverston to learn more about their business and to meet with staff to chat about the work they to boost international trade in Furness.
The tour ended with a reception at Furness Rugby Union club in Barrow with a delegation of local councillors, and representatives from Lakes BioScience.
Mr Fell said: “This has been a hugely successful visit. It has been a pleasure to have the Board of Trade in Barrow and Furness, to show off some of our very many amazing organisations, and the incredible work that Furness folk do here.
“Barrow is a town that was built on trade – from exporting iron ore, and then steel, building the world’s railways, to our prominent role over the years in shipbuilding and in producing the nuclear deterrent. With a full order book in the shipyard and huge opportunities in energy production, pharmaceuticals and advanced engineering locally, this was the perfect time for the Board of Trade to visit.
“This visit has raised Furness’ profile amongst the very top decision-makers in government and to host the Board of Trade has been a great honour.”
Ms Trevelyan added: “I was delighted to host the Board of Trade in Barrow – a town that has traded around the world for over 6,000 years.
“Through our ambitious 71 trade deals we will continue to help boost exports, creating highly skilled local jobs and levelling up the UK.
“It was fantastic to join our local Conservative MP Simon Fell to visit some of the world-class organisations in his constituency from Cumbrian traders at Barrow’s stunning Town Hall to Oxley Developments in Ulverston, ABP, and BAE Systems in Barrow.”
The visit also raised the profile of further export support for UK businesses from the Department for International Trade, by way of a new UK Tradeshow Programme.
Mr Fell said: “As the MP for Barrow and Furness I’ve spoken to a number of local businesses from across Furness that have been hard at work, growing their business, despite the backdrop of the global pandemic.
“Exporting to markets around the world is one way to do this. For all those local businesses who sell their goods and services in Furness, and across the UK, then I would urge them to consider selling to international customers. Expertise and support from the Department for International Trade is available, and I stand by to help make the introductions for any interested businesses locally, to the Department.
“The newly launched UK Tradeshow Programme aims to help businesses to maximise their impact at international tradeshows, whether as exhibitors or visitors. Exhibiting at international trade shows can help small and medium sized enterprises in Furness to gain essential market knowledge and increase company brand awareness and potential sales.”
