UK IT firms told: The market is out there

NEWS The UK's high-tech businesses are being called upon to take a larger share of the £425bn global market for software, services and hardware by upping their export efforts. Currently UK IT companies only do £20bn worth of business internationally, and Trade Partners UK -- the government body set up to support UK companies trading overseas -- is urging them to try to increase that amount. Mike O'Malley, senior international trade advisor for ICT, Trade Partners UK, said: "Although we have an estimated 70,000 to 125,000 companies engaged in the supply of IT products and services in the UK, many of the firms in this sector have yet to realise their potential for overseas market sales." He added: "A distinct competitive advantage for the UK is that English is the language of IT; you only need to glance at the Internet to prove that. Britain excels in high quality innovative software, especially in banking and finance. We also boast an impressive number of entrepreneurial technology-focused SMEs who are prepared to invest time in ground-breaking business models to deliver services and tailored support solutions. The next stage is for these firms to globalise and start winning contracts overseas." To help promote international trade in this sector the government recently launched a new Web site. Backed by Trade Partners UK, the DTI and IT industry association Intellect (formerly the CSSA), the Web site provides the UK IT industry with sales leads, country reports, useful contacts and related Web resources. More information for companies planning to set up abroad can also be found on the Trade Partners UK Web site.

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