Business leaders pay tribute to region’s export excellence.

Alan Richardson receives the Innovation in Export award from Richard Swart, NECC.

The North East’s heroes of export this year included Hart’s Alan Richardson who received his award in front of more than 300 guests at a special North East Exporters Awards 2009 special gala dinner.

As well as being runner up in the New Exporter Award, Alan won the Innovation in Export Award – “for the individual engaged in international trade who can demonstrate added value to their company through innovation such as product design, management systems, logistics, innovative technology”.

The award firmly places Hart Door Systems at the forefront of design solutions for industry. HDS designs and manufactures commercial door systems to satisfy the world standard security and heat insulation regulations, which have included specialist doors to shut out the heat on the Dubai Metro. Alan has worked hard in the Arab market and others, including improving his own skills – including learning to speak Arabic - and techniques to deal with demanding local conditions, quite different from the home market. As a result export sales have increased significantly in the last year.

At the gala dinner, David Coppock, UK Trade & Investment’s International Trade Director, said: “Despite the current difficult economic climate, the region’s international trade performance has remained strong, with the total value of North East exports of goods at more than £11.2 billion – this success is down to the efforts of individuals such as our award winners.

“Our winners really are our heroes of export and I hope their success will help spur others on to broaden their horizons and seek out new markets around the globe and we at UKTI will continue to work with our partners across the region to ensure the region’s companies have access to all the support they need to succeed.”