Blue Eyed Sun MD and GA Chairman, Jeremy Corner, is amongst Chief Executives, Managers and Directors from a group of South East exporting businesses, or organisations that support exporting, that have been recognised as Export Champions by the Department for International Trade (DIT).

The 21 Export Champions have been selected by DIT for their inspirational approach to growing their businesses through exporting or for championing exporting in the South East. Champions will encourage companies in their region to start exporting, offer practical advice on how to turn exporting ambitions into a reality and share their experiences of how DIT helped them break into new markets.

The Export Champion community, launched in March as part of the Exporting is GREAT campaign, was introduced in response to a desire from businesses to receive peer-to-peer exporting support. There are now 250 Export Champions active across England, and the Department’s ambition is to expand the programme to at least 1,000 Champions by April 2020. Their appointments come at a time when worldwide demand for British goods continues to grow. Between 2017 and 2018 exports of goods from the South East increased by 3.2% to £46.8 billion.

Marian Sudbury, Director of UK Regions at the Department for International Trade, opened the South East launch with a keynote speech, saying: “The Export Champions Community is a vital part of the government’s Export Strategy; its members will help create the culture of exporting among businesses across the country.

“Each of our Export Champions has been chosen because they’re great at exporting. Their experience of exporting gives them a unique insight and unique ability to provide the peer-to-peer support that businesses are seeking, to inform and encourage other businesses to follow their lead. We now have 250 Export Champions across all of the English regions, and we hope to continue expanding the programme to at least 1,000 Champions by April 2020.”