Linda Gibbons, Le Mark, sales director, explains, "We had been working on this major project for over four months but, along with all other ceremony suppliers, we were asked to 'save the secret' by Danny Boyle - but now we want to tell the world.
"We have also been collaborating with UK Trade & Investment to try and find overseas markets for our products and services and we were hoping that as the opening ceremony was the biggest shop window we could possibly ask for it would bring us new business."
Liz Basing, regional director for UKTI East, said, "The Olympics is a once in a generation opportunity for the UK to demonstrate its global capabilities and become a focus of interest for global business. For companies like Le Mark, who can actually point to their direct involvement in the ceremony, it could also be the start of some significant new business opportunities overseas."
Le Mark has worked with UKTI, in particular with International Trade Adviser David Earp over a number of years and has taken up opportunities including Passport to Export, EMRS, Gateway to Global Growth and market visits to many countries including most of the EU, Israel, Canada and North /South America as well as participating in a variety of International trade shows with TAP support. During the time they have received support from UKTI the company has seen exports grow from sales worth a few thousand pounds to approaching one million pounds.
In October the company will be exhibiting in USA where they hope to continue their export success.
(Jim Evans)
