A MARKETING company has shown manufacturers are not the region’s only exporters after winning £100,000 of new business from overseas.

Cravens, one of the UK’s oldest independent advertising agencies, was launched in Newcastle in 1948 and has generated the extra business by signing up clients in Switzerland, Dubai and Abu Dhabi after taking part in the UK Trade and Investment’s Passport to Export programme.

The firm, which specialises in sport, financial services and leisure and tourism, developed a comprehensive export strategy and commissioned an in-depth report into the market through UKTI’s Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS), before talking part in a series of UKTI workshops and events, as well as visits to the market to increase its knowledge and networking opportunities.

The firm signed its first major export contract with World Rowing, the international sporting governing body, in Lucerne, Switzerland, shortly afterwards. Phil Coverdale, managing director at the advertising agency, said: “New sales in our first half year of over £100,000 have already been generated and we’ve now set up an office presence in Dubai Media City. This has enabled us to recruit additional staff and given us a real springboard for significant further growth. “The domestic market for creative services is extremely competitive and trading conditions continue to be challenging. By exploiting the potential of international markets we are not only providing opportunities for commercial success, but also creating a positive entrepreneurial energy within the agency.”

Jayne Pickersgill, one of UKTI’s international trade advisers, said: “The advertising and marketing communications sector is a highly-competitive field but once again a North East company has proved it has the expertise and knowledge to successfully compete on the world stage.”