The Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA) has announced that it has entered into a partnership with the Department for International Trade (DIT) to give its members access to a broad range of information and support for trading overseas, including direct access to DIT international trade advisers and opportunities to raise their profile abroad.

ESSA director, Andrew Harrison, said: “This is a positive step for our association, bringing not only tangible benefits to our members but an outward looking move, committing to greater international involvement both through its members and as an association in its own right.”

Adds Gary Shiels, Department for International Trade International Trade Adviser for the East of England, who has been working closely with the Berkhamsted based organisation: “DIT is collaborating with ESSA to channel our support and services to ESSA’s broad membership of contractors and suppliers that provide goods and services to the exhibition industry throughout all regions of the UK.

“We know that trading overseas has several benefits for UK companies, namely increasing their customer base, improving profit margins, faster sales growth, driving innovation and ensuring a sustainable business long term. At DIT, we are focused on supporting, advising and guiding UK companies of all shapes and sizes on their pathway to overseas growth and prosperity.”

The Department for International Trade has overall responsibility for promoting UK trade across the world and attracting foreign investment to our shores. The DIT’s Exporting is GREAT initiative aims to inspire and encourage more businesses to export by 2020. This includes a new find a buyer service at www.great.gov.uk/ that matches companies’ products and services with worldwide demand.