Exporting - No Thanks - We’re British

Here’s an interesting stat which students might use in an exam answer on growing a business through international trade.  70% of UK businesses don’t export - and nearly all of those have no intention of trying!  The data comes from a survey of 8,000 UK firms reported by the Telegraph.  According to the article, most of the firms which have rejected exporting explained that their products and services were unsuitable for consumption overseas, while a fifth were quite happy living off their existing sales (i.e. demand from the domestic market).

The survey indicates that a reluctance to export might also be a cultural issue for the Brits.  That suggests an inertia that is harder to change.  With the government trying (and needing) to encourage an export-led economic recovery, the survey findings must be disappointing news.

Exchange rate: £1 above €1.20 [8 May 2012]
“Strategy is Choice” - Takeovers are Just One Option [25 Mar 2012]
International expansion and culture - doing business in the UAE [4 Mar 2012]
Video case study - finding success in an engineering niche [22 Feb 2012]
Strategic choice: What should Facebook do with cash from the IPO? [30 Jan 2012]
Growth strategy - Starbucks eyes the franchise model [28 Jan 2012]
Tesco takes it ‘easy’, controlling costs in its US operations [11 Jan 2012]
The Boston Matrix, whisky and booming exports [2 Dec 2011]
Greggs, Sausage Rolls and the Ansoff Matrix [20 Oct 2011]
Coming to a petrol station near you - Little Waitrose [12 Sep 2011]
Skype CEO on Aims, Growth, Risks and Motivation [4 Sep 2011]
Risk-free Curry? Searching for the Right Growth Strategy [29 Aug 2011]
Taking Italian to the Chinese - Pizza Express Expansion Strategy [24 Aug 2011]
ResearchBuster: Organic Growth [7 Jun 2011]
Organic growth strategy - the benefits if firms “believe in better” [24 May 2011]
Profit, not external growth, should be the sensible strategy? [22 May 2011]
Strategy explained - Insights into Amazon [13 May 2011]
Whitbread goes for organic growth [2 May 2011]
Tesco -  The right strategy in the US? [23 Apr 2011]
Flexibility is a key part of exporting success [20 Apr 2011]
Triumph - A Classic Case of Niche Export Success [18 Apr 2011]
Export or Not?  Cheesemaker in a Pickle [28 Mar 2011]
Howard Schultz - A Changed Starbucks. A Changed C.E.O [13 Mar 2011]
Sources of finance for an export-led strategy [6 Mar 2011]
External growth - Diageo on the acquisition trail [21 Feb 2011]
British exports - what does the government do to help? [10 Feb 2011]
The Strategy Battle of 2011 - David’s kid brother versus Goliath [17 Jan 2011]
How to find an export market [11 Jan 2011]
Small firms are embracing exporting - but still put off by “red tape” [29 Dec 2010]
Q&A - Evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of international expansion options [29 Dec 2010]
Q&A - Should a business use franchising as part of its growth strategy? [21 Dec 2010]
Q&A - Explain “organic” or internal growth [21 Dec 2010]
Q&A - How can the expansion of a firm be measured? [21 Dec 2010]
Lesson Worksheet - Business Growth Basics [29 Sep 2010]
Organic growth - Greggs CEO Outlines His Strategy [30 Aug 2010]
Nissan profits from a recovery in demand [30 Jul 2010]
Rising industrial unrest in China [29 Jun 2010]
Howard Schultz on Starbuck’s Growth Prospects in China [19 May 2010]
Cool looking map to highlight globalisation [1 Mar 2010]
Strategy in the UK Recession - What 69 UK CEOs Did About It [22 Feb 2010]
Branded coffee shops prove resilient to the UK recession [17 Feb 2010]
Recession turns the UK into a fast-food nation [16 Feb 2010]
Recession Buster - Dominos On the March [16 Feb 2010]
AQA BUSS4 Section B Practice Question - ITV & News Corp [7 Feb 2010]
Video case study - New Balance quality in a successful UK factory [28 Jan 2010]
Q&A - What methods can a business can use to expand into international markets? [14 Jan 2010]
Emerging Markets - Strategies for Doing Business in China [5 Nov 2009]
Illustrating Growth Strategies - Walmart the Movie [23 Oct 2009]
Video report - pound hit by falling inflation [14 Oct 2009]
Q&A - Explain the causes of inflation [1 Jul 2009]
Video case study - subsidy boosts demand for small cars [23 May 2009]
Q&A - What are the implications for UK businesses if the pound strengthens? [1 May 2009]
Video Case Study - Export Success for Mining Tools Manufacturer [15 Jan 2009]
Video Case Study - Exporters Benefit from a Weaker Pound [6 Jan 2009]
Beijing Bound for the Black Cabs [19 May 2008]
Two years of pain as CBI forecast lower growth for the UK [25 Mar 2008]

BUSINESS TEACHER RESOURCE NEWSLETTER
Get first news of business teaching resources, ideas and other materials from tutor2u. Over 9,400 business teachers from the UK and around the world receive our regular teacher email newsletters. Sign up for free here!