PPMA Gear Up Issue 2

Helping you do
business overseas
Making the
right connection
By Sidiqa Hazara, Membership Relations Executive
The International Services section of our
website (www.ppma.co.uk) includes a
host of information to assist members
looking to export for the first time, as
well as for experienced exporters, such
as:
• Free ‘Exporting is Great’ webinars,
from the Department for
International Trade (DIT)
• Contact details for local DIT advisors
• Open to Export, a free online
information service dedicated to
helping UK SMEs
• FCO political economic updates
• Information from the British
Chamber of Commerce
• UK Export Finance links
It’s been a busy second
quarter for me. As usual, I
have been up and down the
country visiting members
including: Thermal Printer
Support, Simmatic Automation
Specialists, Iconsys, Wago, Camau,
Astech IT Solutions, Trescal, Matcon,
Tapflo, Integrated Glueing Technology,
Marel, FT Systems, TM Robotics,
Newman Labelling, Smurfit Kappa
Machine Systems, Lenze, ICE and Turbo
Vacuumenation. It will be no surprise to
learn that the main topic of conversation
has been Brexit and how this is going to
affect the industry.
We are currently working on our
summer programme to deliver more
localised networking events where
members can meet and liaise with each
other. After the successful launch of
our first networking event in April, the
next one will take place on 27 July at
the Williams F1 Facility. The focus of this
event will be digital marketing – see p10
for full details.
Other upcoming events include the
PPMA Golf Day on 31 August and two
more networking events specifically for
BARA members (details to be confirmed,
please keep an eye out for our emails).
I’d also like to encourage members to
enter the PPMA Group Industry Awards.
The deadline for entries has been
extended to 14 July and this is a great
opportunity to get your name out there
in front of 400+ industry leaders and
end-users (see p9 for full details).
Finally, we will be carrying out a
comprehensive membership survey
at the end of this year to get a better
understanding of our members’ needs
and wants. Please make sure you take
part and provide your honest feedback,
as this will help us to enhance our
member services and help us shape the
future of your trade association.
In addition, the PPMA is a
government-approved Trade Challenge
Partner (TCP), which enables us to obtain
grants for selected overseas exhibitions
and trade missions. The Tradeshow
Access Programme (TAP) provides grant
support of between £1,500-£2,500
towards the cost of exhibiting at an
overseas tradeshow.
The PPMA is also a member of the
Sponsors’ Alliance, an independent
alliance of member-based, not-forprofit
trade associations and chambers
of commerce, who engage in export
promotion activity in conjunction with
the Department for International Trade
(DIT).
For more information on any of our
international services, contact:
janette.lane@ppma.co.uk
Get in touch
Our Membership Relations Executive,
Sidiqa Hazara, regularly visits PPMA
members. To invite Sidiqa to visit your
business or find out how to make the
most of your membership, contact:
sidiqa.hazara@ppma.co.uk
T +44 (0)20 8773 5521
Is your business profile
up to date?
The PPMA Online Directory is a powerful
tool for export, averaging 10,000 hits per
quarter (including 6,000 unique visitors),
with 35% of this traffic coming from
overseas. Don’t miss out on business
opportunities – make sure your profile is
up to date!
13 www.ppma.co.uk