Event agency Smyle is set to help the UK win high value contracts overseas after being selected for an exclusive taskforce.
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) will support 100 of the UK's top creative sector small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to win £500 million worth of high value overseas contracts in the next three years. The initiative is part of a government plan to get 100,000 more UK businesses exporting.
Business secretary Vince Cable said: "The growing appetite for British design offers many opportunities for innovative firms of all sizes to boost their overseas trade and attract new investment.
"With new support from UK Trade & Investment, we want to help creative SMEs access more high value supply chain opportunities across the globe."
Each company in the taskforce will have its own international expansion plan and participate in a minimum of two overseas visits each year to target high value projects. They will also receive training, support and networking opportunities directly related to these high value opportunities from UKTI and work with International Trade Advisers to identify the projects they are most qualified to bid for.
Smyle's creative director Matthew Margetson said: "Britain has the right environment to breed world class creative companies with its mix of ambitious clients who are passionate about differentiating their brands and creating meaningful experiences.
"A rich cultural habitat in Britain provides inspiration at every level and the competition between creative agencies drives new ideas and fosters highly talented teams. The live experience sector is no different and results in us having world class live experience agencies to export. Add to this the exciting prospect of the emerging markets and global companies needing joined up campaigns, then this initiative comes at a fantastic time riding on a wave of GREAT British brands".
Collectively the creative industries already generate more than £36 billion a year for the UK economy - £70,000 every minute - and employ 1.5 million people. Creative industries account for around £1 in every £10 of the UK's exports and are seen as crucial to building a stronger economy.