Come off it doomsters, Britain’s a force to be reckoned with...

DON’T let the doomsters tell you any different: Brexit Britain is emerging as a force to be reckoned with. The IMF forecast the UK economy will grow faster than France, Germany, Italy, and Japan in the years ahead.

And new UN figures show the UK was the world’s fourth largest exporter in 2022, selling goods and services around the globe — from emerging markets such as Kenya and Algeria, to the US and China.

There’s more good news. As well as being the fourth largest exporter, in 2022 we were the biggest exporter of insurance and pension services and telecommunications services — beating the US, India, China, Japan and our neighbours in the eU.

And since 2010, the UK has had the highest manufacturing productivity growth in the G7.

The sector accounts for around 40 per cent of our exports and is spreading prosperity right across the country. With eight in ten manufacturing jobs based outside London and the South east. This is levelling up in action.

Almost 60 per cent of our exports go to countries outside of the eU, with billions of pounds worth of British goods and services heading to the United States, to the Middle east and to India — among other places.

This week the Government celebrated this Great British exporting success with its ‘Made in the UK, Sold to The World’ Awards.

Ten companies across the UK have been given the award which recognises the enterprising exporter’s spirit our businesses have throughout the country.

These Awards have been organised by the Government’s GReAT Campaign — which promotes British businesses internationally and in so doing helps grow UK business abroad and generate hundreds of millions for our economy.

As the Institute for exports’ director general and a judge at this year’s awards, Marco Forgione, said the sheer calibre of British businesses entering this year was incredibly high. It is a testament to the talent and innovation pulsing through our economy.

Companies like Autoflame engineering in Kent — one of many family-owned British businesses — that help manufacturers reduce their fuel and maintenance costs through any one of their 46 different patents.

Or PG Paper from Greenock, Scotland, exporting paper and packaging products from its global mill partners to more than 60 countries. And Northern Ireland’s Ciga healthcare, whose Rapid Diagnostic Tests are distributed to over 80 countries worldwide, and they are sold in massive global retailers like Walmart and Walgreens.

SMes make up 99.9 per cent of all registered companies in the UK and with the Government’s new online portal we’re helping them to become exporters if they are not already and to export to more countries if they are already exporting.

ThIS new online portal provides potential exporters with useful guidance on what rules they need to follow — if any and offers a step-by-step guide on exporting.

I personally know how difficult it can be to run a business, as I used to run one myself. In fact, my business — Making It (UK) Ltd — provided training for other small and medium enterprises, as well as offering start-up spaces for new businesses. I knew the challenges small businesses face.

Now, as a Cabinet Office Minister, I know this Government is absolutely behind them and when it comes to global trade, Britain means business.

These Government GReAT Awards showcase and recognise the depth and breadth of British expertise. We have world leaders in agriculture, education technology, construction, engineering and more.

I’m a firm believer that you get the very best out of our small businesses by releasing their huge potential and reducing the barriers and red tape they face.

Through this Government’s actions and campaigns, we are not only supporting our thriving small businesses, we are opening up new markets for them across the world.