Door Industry Journal - Winter 2014

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk industry news FIRMS RECEIVING GOVERNMENT EXPORT SUPPORT INCREASES BY 50% The number of businesses receiving export support has increased by 50% in the last financial year. UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) helped a total of 47,960 businesses in 2013 to 2014 to export for the first time or find new markets through its extensive network of specialists in the UK and in British embassies around the world. Trade Minister Lord Livingston said: “Over the last 4 years, UKTI has more than doubled the number of companies it has helped. “As part of our long term economic plan, we want to increase the number of small and medium size companies that sell internationally as this creates growth and new jobs in all UK regions and all industries”. Buckinghamshire based door manufacturer and small business Urban Front received UKTI help to export to the United States and now receive £30,000 in sales from this market every month. Elizabeth Assaf, Creative Director of Urban Front, said: “We have been working with UKTI for over 6 years and have been very lucky to have a great amount of support from their offices around the world, and in the UK. “They really are my first port of call for any questions I may have about exporting – from which language an advert needs to be in to the Overseas Market Introduction Service to support at exhibitions. “The difference it has made to our business is immense, making difficult decisions easier, and without them we would be lost or paying a lot of money in consultant fees, which as a small business would be very difficult to do”. Urban Front designs and manufactures steel-reinforced contemporary hardwood doors and garage doors at its Buckinghamshire-based factory, which has a staff of 12 and a steadily increasing turnover. For more information on Urban Front steel-reinforced contemporary hardwood doors and garage doors visit - www.urbanfront.co.uk 7 THE door industry journal winter 2014 STOP PRESS! - SOMMER IS ON THE MOVE SOMMER Door & Gate Automation announced just as we went to press that due to their constant growth and expansion, they will be relocating on the 8th December to new premises in order to cope with this upsurge in their business. To concentrate their activity into a single location they will be moving into the same but much larger premises occupied by Doco International, now that both companies belong to the SOMMER Group. That means more space, more staff and therefore more efficiency, which will allow them to focus even more closely on the industrial door and garage door operator markets, whilst offering improved and extended customer service. The new company address is: SOMMER Door & Gate Automation Unit B3, Elvington Industrial Estate York Road, Elvington York YO41 4AR The phone number remains unchanged as 01904 608 787, but the fax number has changed to 01904 607 299.