Liverpool mid sized businesses target new international trade routes despite tariff uncertainty

EXPANDING or exporting overseas is a top priority for 39% of Liverpool mid sized businesses over the next year, despite complex international trade conditions.

BDO's Economic Engine survey of 500 mid sized businesses shows that companies in Liverpool plan to target territories such as:- Africa (32%) and Asia (32%). Europe also remains a healthy market, with 41% focusing on the European Union in 2025. A further 48% intend to target those countries that sit outside the EU, including:- Norway, Switzerland and Iceland.

Mid sized businesses, which generated £1.6 trillion in turnover last year, are continuing to push for growth through international trade despite grappling with supply chain pressures. This includes:- uncertainty around tariffs in receiving countries, delayed deliveries or a shortage of the skills needed to support overseas exports.

According to the BDO survey, 30% of Liverpool businesses face skills shortages in export operations or supply chain management teams at a time when they hope to grow overseas trade.

Mounting pressures come as demand from end consumers slows for products and services. 25% say lower demand from consumers, which could include from businesses with elevated operating costs or consumers with high living expenses, is one of the challenges they face over the next 6 months.

Despite these headwinds, Liverpool mid sized businesses are working to tackle the challenges they face and remain optimistic. Ahead of the Government's plans to publish a Small Business Strategy later this year, the majority (95%) expect the strategy's focus on growing smaller firms to benefit them.

Of this number, 26% are calling for measures to reduce red tape, including:- reforms to streamline customs procedures, which impact the export of products and services overseas, or offer stronger support for exports and trade, including:- more dedicated UK Export Finance funding.

These businesses may be buoyed by the Government increasing the amount some companies can borrow from the British Business Bank's Growth Guarantee Scheme or UK Export Finance's Export Development Guarantee, as they grapple with the prospect of new tariffs in some receiving countries.

Angela Cross, Regional managing partner at BDO in Liverpool, said:- "Although economic conditions remain challenging, mid sized businesses in Liverpool are highly ambitious and have their sights firmly set on driving growth, with overseas trade playing a central part in helping to realise those ambitions. The forthcoming Small Business Strategy is 1 of many major opportunities for the Government to provide targeted support for the mid market; support that will complement efforts being driven by the City's Mayor and combined authority, with the aim of reinforcing Liverpool's role in the UK's economic landscape."

Edge Hill secures major research funding to explore world class inclusive education project

EDUCATION researchers at:- Edge Hill University and University College Cork have secured funding to explore how Schools can become more inclusive.

The £155,000 grant, awarded by the National Council for special Education (NCSE), will be used to evaluate a pilot program in Ireland that uses Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a teaching approach designed to help all students succeed.

UDL is an internationally recognised framework that brings together the process of how students learn with evidence-based strategies and helps to develop more inclusive practices.

Project lead and Professor of Inclusive Education at Edge Hill Peter Hick said:- "Our research aims to shed new light on ways in which Schools can become more inclusive. Universal Design for Learning is about helping teachers to:- 'design in' more inclusive practices from the start, rather than relying on support for:- 'fitting in' afterwards. Given the current policy focus on the crisis in SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) provision and the importance of building more support in mainstream Schools, the findings of this research are likely to be of considerable interest to School leaders and policy makers."

This international project funded by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), a statutory agency of the Department Education in the Republic of Ireland, is one of Edge Hill's largest in this field.

The NCSE's vision is for a world class inclusive education system for Ireland, where children and adults with special educational needs are supported to achieve better outcomes in their education to enable them to reach their potential.

Dr Kevin Cahill from the research-intensive University College Cork, who is also a Co-Principal Investigator for the project, added:- "The School of Education, University College Cork are delighted to be collaborating with our colleagues in Edge Hill University on such an important and impactful project. The Universal Design for Learning Support Model Pilot has the potential to be a seminal moment in inclusive education provision in Ireland and beyond. We are delighted to play our part as the research team engaged with its evaluation."

Professor Hick and Dr Cahill will be working alongside Dr Maria Reraki, Professor Axel Kaehne and project manager Dr Oliver Hamer from Edge Hill, and Dr Dan O'Sullivan and Dr Kathleen Foley from University College Cork. The evaluation runs for two years from November 2024.

Discover more about Edge Hill University's Evaluation and Policy Analysis Unit - Edge Hill University.

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