Scientifica shares its export story with the Business Minister

15/06/2012

The achievements of Queen's Award winner, Uckfield-based Scientifica, have been highlighted at a prestigious showcase in London which was visited this week by the Business Minister Mark Prisk.

Scientifica was one of only five of this year's Queen's Award winners to be invited to exhibit at the showcase at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) in Victoria Street, London.

Launched in 1969, the Queen's Awards for Enterprise are the UK's highest accolade for business success. The award is given to outstanding UK companies leading the way in international trade, innovation and sustainable development.

"We've been very impressed by the entries to this year's awards," said Mr Prisk. "Of the 209 winners, 180 are small and medium sized businesses and almost half are from manufacturing. This demonstrates how smaller businesses and the manufacturing industry can drive growth for UK PLC. I encourage firms to get involved and submit their entries for next year's awards."

Scientifica, which develops and manufactures high quality equipment for electrophysiology and imaging researchers, currently achieves 70% of its business through overseas sales – with the US being its biggest market. The company is also busy opening up new opportunities in the Asia Pacific region and is now successfully trading in China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Australasia.

Adrian Corbin from Scientifica spoke with Mr Prisk about the company's export success and discussed some of the challenges exporters currently face, such as the red tape involved in obtaining export licences.

"Mr Prisk was really encouraging about how we are growing our exports, particularly into the Far East," said Adrian Corbin. "He was interested to hear how we are expanding our business in China and said that the government would do everything it could to support our plans."

Mr Prisk added: "This showcase forms part of a package of initiatives and programmes the Government is leading to show how innovative and world-leading our manufacturing base is here in the UK."