The UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) is a UK government organisation that helps companies rise to the exciting opportunities and challenges that globalisation offers, whilst ensuring their success in international markets. They also encourage overseas organisations to choose UK companies as their global partner of choice. In September 2011 Hartley Botanic, manufacturer of greenhouses and glasshouses, teamed up with Lynne Gillen, international trade advisor for UKTI North West to organise an afternoon tea event at the British Consulate, Boston, Massachusettes. Here, over 50 of New England’s leading landscape architects, garden designers and writers attended and responded to the event, helping Hartley Botanic achieve some excellent figures.
Speaking about the event, Johnny Mobasher, Managing Director of Hartley Botanic, said, “Thanks to the UKTI, our Greenhouses Corporate conference is proving to be a real success. In addition to a fantastically unexpected attendance, our level of enquiries – directly as the result of the event – has been almost 25% up on the same period last year in 2010, and we are now currently busy working on an exciting project for 2012. It was a particularly important event for Hartley Greenhouses as our audience combined a range of influential landscape architects, garden designers and contractors as well as clients some of whom were familiar with our brand and some who appreciated the unsurpassed quality and the high specification that Hartley Botanic Greenhouses offer to their current and future clients. The staff at the consulate did a fantastic job in assisting the Hartley Botanic Greenhouses conference.”
UKTI play a vital role in assisting UK businesses access foreign markets and achieve greater profitability whilst helping increase the UK’s GDP growth at the same time. This is a crucial aspect in the growth of the UK’s economy during the current dip we are experiencing, as future prosperity will not be able to rely solely on domestic markets alone. Across the world there are markets that are showing long-term, strong growth. Internationalisation offers opportunities for innovation as products or services are developed to meet the needs of international customers; this can also enhance creditability and financial stability for the company. Further to this, Nick Baird, CEO of UKTI, said, “I am delighted that UK Trade & Investment’s support has helped Hartley Botanic expand overseas. Hartley Botanic has shown what can be achieved in a tough economic climate if you take your business abroad. I hope Hartley Botanic’s success will encourage even more companies to follow their example and work with UK Trade & Investment take their business to the international arena.”
With the current UK Gross Domestic Product figures released on 25th January 2012 and reporting a gloomy 0.2% shrinkage in the last three months of 2011, showing the first quarter of negative growth for a year – businesses need to not be cut off from the global marketplace. Exporting not only enables companies to achieve an enhanced level of growth, but by building these overseas relationships and with the help of the government body, UKTI, businesses may be able to boost the UK’s GDP and get it back on track in terms of growth.
Hartley Botanic Greenhouses have been built with the finest British craftsmanship for over 70 years; this is why they last for generations. Each greenhouse is hand manufactured to demanding specifications, which are highly respected and appreciated by discerning gardeners. They are superior in design, appearance, build quality and performance, and customers can choose from a wide range of Hartley’s existing designs or have their greenhouse custom designed to their own needs. Hartley Botanic greenhouses are shipped and hand assembled in fine gardens and estates around the world.