TWO seminars are being staged to help small firms get to grips with overseas trade.

The Opening Up New Horizons events are being targeted at businesses in Northumberland who have goods or services they could export.

Organised by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) in conjunction with Castle Morpeth and Berwick Business forums, the free seminars will introduce the fundamentals of trading overseas and detail the help available to get started.

Jeff Sanders, an international trade adviser with UKTI, said: “Despite the current economic downturn, the North East’s export performance remains strong with more than £11.5bn worth of goods and services exported in the last year. And yet only a relatively small percentage of the region’s companies are exporters. “So while the credit crunch may mean we have to tighten our belts it should not deter companies from exploring overseas opportunities. When the economic environment is tough, it’s even more important for companies – whatever the size or product/service – to consider expanding their business internationally.”

Mr Sanders will speak to the meetings in Berwick and Morpeth about getting started in overseas trade and Karen Grant from Barclays will talk about financing. The events will also hear from Business Link and the personal experiences of entrepreneurs who have started trading internationally.

The Berwick event is at Marshall Meadows on Tuesday, February 10 from 5pm to 8pm and the Morpeth seminar is at Longhirst Hall on Thursday, February 12 from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.