Small businesses looking to expand overseas quickly, says expert

Date: 18th November 2011

More small businesses and start-up companies are looking to expand into growing overseas markets such as China and India, according to one expert.

Emma Jones, of Enterprise Nation, explained that a survey her company undertook around a month ago showed that 67 per cent of small businesses are saying they are taking their brand around the world within the first 12 months of trading.

Furthermore, she explained that smaller companies are "very nimble" when it comes to changing their focus, especially as 50 per cent of exports from the UK go to the struggling eurozone.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5's On The Money podcast, Ms Jones said start-ups are looking to the web to help expand their reach.

"There are growing audiences there (in India and China), growing wealth, growing prosperity," she explained.

"Small businesses who are operating on low overheads, have niche products to sell, are harnessing the web, embracing technology, and are getting out there to nations where there are customers who are willing to pay."

It comes after prime minister David Cameron announced earlier this week proposals to help small firms export to new markets and cut red tape.

Posted by Emily Smith