Sharon calls on SMEs in the South East to 'look to Europe' for business opportunities

2.30.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 14th Jul 2010

Sharon at Norbury Park Farm Cheese Factory in Surrey

Sharon has called on small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the South East to 'look to Europe' for business opportunities after a recently published report showed a positive link between exports and SME performance.

Sharon was commenting on a European Commission study in which 'internationalised' firms reported employment growth of 7%, while those focused on local markets grew by only 1%.

The study also found that the percentage of UK SMEs exporting was below the EU average of 25%.

Sharon said:

"The single market offers South East businesses unrestricted access to almost 450m customers. With so many small firms struggling, this represents a good opportunity to grow.

"Many SMEs are put off exporting because they think it is too complicated but the EU has removed the barriers to trade within Europe and advice and support is available through organisations like Enterprise Europe Network.*

"The single market is worth £200bn to UK businesses and it is time the South East takes its fair share of this."

ENDS

*Enterprise Europe Network offers assistance to small companies looking to do business in Europe.