ONE of the North East's most inspiring entrepreneurs has been giving tips to ambitious young businesses on how to find new markets.
Dr Herbert Loebl, the son of a German manufacturer who fled Nazi Germany at 16 and went on to help to start hundreds of businesses in the UK, gave the benefits of his experience to a Newcastle University Business School academy named in his honour.
The businessman, who retired in 1974 after building the Joyce Loebl engineering group and the pioneering Enterprise North agency, visited the latest workshop held by the new Herbert Loebl Export Academy.
Dr Loebl joined local businesses, mentors, university staff and guest speakers at the third instalment of the Export Academy to join discussion on selecting a distribution strategy. The academy is being held at the Business School in conjunction with UK Trade and Investment and RTC North.
He said: “The development of technical products and high volume parts are a main strength of British businesses and there is great demand for our expertise across the world.
“Knowledge on export is essential for those looking to expand on a global scale, which is why I set up the Export Academy. The workshops have the right balance between experienced exporters sharing their advice and offering their personal insight into export, and businesses looking to export perhaps for the first time.
“My ambition for the Export Academy is for at least one of the companies attending the workshops that haven’t exported before to have made their first step into export by July 1 – if this happens I will be very happy.”
The final workshop on April 19 will look at the financial considerations and support available to businesses.
Dr Fiona Whitehurst, director of engagement at the Business School said: “Research has shown that businesses are cautious of export opportunities so alongside Dr Loebl, RTC North and UKTI we set up the academy to show how attainable export really is for North East businesses.
“All parties are benefiting from the interactive nature of the Export Academy – attendees are gaining valuable insight, while mentors and guest speakers are benefiting from sharing experience and hearing about the real issues businesses are facing. We were delighted Dr Herbert Loebl was able to join us for the third workshop – his presence was inspirational for everyone involved.”
Alistair Newton, project manager at Sunderland’s Alex Smiles Ltd said: “The whole feeling at the Academy is about wanting to succeed and is enhanced by the fact that none of our competitors are there and we can openly discuss issues that could be of concern.”
