Chief Executive David Dickinson has written to all Members of Parliament in a bid to stop the proposed plans, which will mean that funding for overseas trade shows will only be available for ‘new to export’ companies as one-off support for their first overseas exhibition.
Further financial support will only be available on a regional basis to companies that agree to sign up to a trade development plan with their local Business Link. But the BSIA says most Business Links do not have expertise in the security sector, and this could disadvantage exporters.
“The BSIA has been an Approved Sponsor for exporting since 1990, at a time when UK exports in this sector were almost nil,” Dickinson said.
“Since that time there has been a total of about GB pound 3m support – approximately GB pound 200,000 per annum – through the SESA scheme. Security product exports are now achieving over GB pound 300m per annum – tremendously good value for the UK economy.
“I fear that the Government’s plans will result in the loss of the UK trading profile abroad, not to mention the loss of security expertise and experience which could contribute greatly to the many counter-terrorism measures around the world. The plans would also lead to a considerable loss of export earnings, which the country and our industry can ill afford.
“Instead, the BSIA would like to see a continuation of the excellent and experienced support that trade associations and chambers of commerce have provided SMEs for years.
“The support must be nationally delivered and backed up if appropriate by regional trade advisors.”
