ADVICE is to be offered to every medium-sized firm in the country on exporting or breaking into new markets.

Trade minister Lord Livingston is to write to 8,900 UK companies in the coming months asking if they want support from UK Trade and Investment (UKTI).

Fewer than one in five mid-sized businesses - with an annual turnover of between £25 million and £250 million - generate revenues outside the European Union, compared to 25% in Germany and 30% in Italy.

Lord Livingston said: "Mid-sized businesses have the potential to be economic powerhouses for the UK economy, creating jobs and growth for all regions of the UK.

"Their success is dependent on expanding beyond domestic markets so we will be making personal contact with all mid-sized businesses to find out what we can do to help them go up a gear and compete with the best the rest of the world has to offer.

"Businesses excel with UKTI's support and we want to make sure that they are not just trading abroad, but thriving there."