Minister of State for Trade and Export Promotion, Baroness Rona Fairhead meets 13 EIC member companies to discuss issues facing UK industry.
On 29 January, Elfab’s Managing Director, Anika Ephraim attended the Energy Industries Council (EIC) round table with Baroness Rona Fairhead, Minister of State for Trade and Export Promotion at the Department for International Trade (DIT), alongside 12 other CEOs from EIC member companies, representing the full range of energy sectors and organisations of all sizes.
Elfab, a North East of England based manufacturer of bursting discs and pressure relief products which provide protection for people, plant, processes and the environment, was selected by the EIC from member companies who applied to attend the round table, highlighting the importance of SME’s in the UK energy supply chain.
High level industry issues covered included several topics key to the successful future growth of Elfab such as the development of overseas partners, export growth and funding for skills and technology, and also focussed on the challenges that British suppliers to local and global energy sectors are facing, including Brexit.
Minister of State for Trade and Export Promotion, Baroness Rona Fairhead said, “As we build a new Export Strategy, DIT will continue to engage closely with businesses, including those in the energy sector, to ensure that we are providing the right support to enable them to take advantage of opportunities overseas.”
Anika Ephraim commented “Elfab was delighted to be chosen to participate in the round table. The event provided an invaluable forum for industry to raise key areas of focus for UK businesses in the energy supply chain and discuss the support available to those looking to expand overseas. The energy sector is of primary importance to Elfab’s future growth and as a highly successful SME manufacturer, with more than 70% of our business exported internationally, we were able to provide a diverse view of the challenges and opportunities for us in the industry”.
Stuart Broadley, EIC CEO added “Among the EIC member companies present, a key message was that “together we are stronger, with a real openness to sharing information and forming joint ventures to ramp up UK capability being expressed.”
