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Wednesday, 04 Jul 2012

“Business in China now represents in excess of £800,000 a year for us and UKTI has provided invaluable support in developing this market”

Steve Spence, Sales Director for Faraday Printed Circuits Ltd

Faraday Directors

North East firm's exports charging ahead in Jubilee year

A North East firm’s exports are charging ahead in its jubilee year with the help of UK Trade & Investment (UKTI).

Faraday Printed Circuits Ltd, of Washington, has double cause for celebration this month as it marks its silver jubilee and a bumper year for overseas business, particularly in China.

Launched 25 years ago, the company has established itself as a major player within the UK printed circuit board (PCB) industry and already exports across Europe including Holland, Germany, Romania, Turkey and Hungary.

The company signed up to UKTI’s Passport to Export programme to develop its export strategy and the Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS) to research potential markets. More recently it enlisted the support of UKTI’s China Team and took part in overseas Market Visits to develop links in this lucrative market and it now boasts a manufacturing post with a partner in Shenzen, from which it sells to Hong Kong.

The company has also become a member of the China International Networking Club to share its knowledge and experience with other North East companies that are exporting to China.

Steve Spence, Sales Director for Faraday Printed Circuits Ltd, explained:

“We’ve grown steadily over the years and exports have played a key part in that growth. We now have strategic partnerships with a number of key Asian PCB fabricators which enables us to provide tailor-made solutions for our customers, from fast turn around prototype and medium volume production at our UK plant to high volume orders for which we can take advantage of the reduced production costs of our Far Eastern partners.

“Business in China now represents in excess of £800,000 a year for us and UKTI has provided invaluable support in developing this market.

“UKTI has helped us with the Passport to Export scheme, with a market report undertaken for the Netherlands which lead to a visit and contact with a commercial officer in the British Embassy in the Hague. Yang and his team also provided vital information in dealing with China, which has helped us smooth the process in our dealings with our Far Eastern partners.”

John Doolan, one of UK Trade & Investment’s International Trade Advisers, has worked closely with the company alongside Dr Zhengming Yang, China Team Business Development Manager. John said:

“UKTI offers a wide range of support services to help both novice and experienced exporters such as Passport to Export while those focusing on China, who perhaps need more specialised advice, can access our experts in the China Team.

“The electronics industry is a highly competitive field and Faraday Printed Circuits Ltd was already an experienced exporter, but the company was still able to benefit from the expert advice and support that UKTI has to offer.”

Yang added: “China can be a complex market but the rewards cannot be underestimated and with the right knowledge and support North East firms can successfully do business there, as Faraday has proved.

“We’re delighted the company has also joined our China Networking Club, which is proving to be a popular means for local companies involved in China to share ideas and experience of this market through regular meetings and networking events.”

China Networking Club

The next meeting of the China Networking Club (North East) will take place on Wednesday, 25 July 2012, 12.00-2.30pm at RTC North, Sunderland.

The topic will be “Demystify social media and harness it for the benefit of international trade”. The event is free but places must be booked in advance via the North East International Trade Hotline 0845 05 05 054 or email enquiries@uktinortheast.org.uk.