“NO, no, no. You don’t do it like that!”
All I was doing was posing with a tea cup for a photograph.
But it was in the tea tasting room at world renowned Yorkshire tea and coffee maker Taylors.
And, according to Mo, one of the firm’s seven-strong tasting team, I had picked up the vessel used to strain the tea, not a cup that you drink it out of.
Given I was taking part in a photo shoot ahead of an Export Exchange event I was hosting at Taylor’s Harrogate factory, things didn’t have to be totally correct did they?
Oh yes they did, Mo informed us.
“And you need some proper branding in there, I’ll get the cups with our logo on and we’ll get some proper Yorkshire Tea in the picture too.”
I looked at Gary Neild, Taylor’s international director, who, it seemed, had decided on my approach – discretion should be the better part of valour.
Mo returned to the tasting room with the props and the picture, I think we all agreed, well certainly in Mo’s hearing, was all the better for them.
Quite frankly, I felt I was lucky to get in to the place, given all visitors had been informed before arrival that it was a “nut free site”.
Out of the tasting room and back up to the seminar room to kick off the morning event which was focused on what routes to market fledgling exporters should consider before taking the plunge on the international stage.
With the fall in the value of sterling fuelling a growth in overseas demand for British products, new exporters at the event were encouraged by a raft of success stories and given some honest advice from regional businesses experienced in overseas trade, including Taylors of Harrogate and Leeds-based fish and chip frying equipment supplier, Hopkins.
Garry Nield said Taylors has significantly grown its overseas sales in recent years and explained how the market for British tea is flourishing and helping the £164m turnover business to sell its iconic Yorkshire Tea brand into English-speaking countries, including Australia, the US and Canada.
There is also a growing interest in tea in Europe, said Mr Nield. “It’s seen as a healthier alternative to coffee and our Taylors Tea brand is also finding new markets in diverse countries as far afield as Poland, Bahrain and the Philippines, all of which we have recently entered.”
Victoria Hopkins, managing director of Hopkins, which sells its fish and chip frying ranges and other catering equipment across the world, largely to English speaking countries, warned that it was vital to carry out adequate due diligence on any prospective partner whether as a joint venture, an agent or a distributor. Hopkins is currently exploring both the the US and Canadian markets and has approvals for both.
Simon Riley director of Leeds-based Quality Bearings Online, and an Export Exchange patron, also spoke at the event. Established six years ago, Quality Bearings Online describes itself as an ‘accidental exporter’ whose products were initially found through organic search by customers around the world.
Recognising the global potential, the company now promotes itself via Google advertisements to English and Spanish-speaking countries worldwide and over the last three years it has seen huge growth in its exports which now account for 85% of sales.
Bradford bicycle manufacturer Pennine Cycles’ Sandra Corcoran underlined that British goods are synonymous with high quality. “Being British is a big selling point for us and Yorkshire is an important brand too,” she said. Pennine Cycles manufactures bespoke cycle frames and the business has attracted customers from around the world, including the US and Switzerland.
ExportExchange organises a series of quarterly events bringing experienced and would-be exporters together, to inform on key issues and to provide interaction between ‘patrons’, or experienced exporters, and businesses. The events are also designed to help businesses navigate the range of overseas trade resources available regionally.
More information on Exporting for Growth and details of how to apply for funding are available on the ExportExchange website at www.exportexchange.co.uk/exporting-for-growth-in-yorkshire-and-the-humber
WHAT a difference a week makes.
Last week Bradford would have been shivering under another blanket of snow like most of the rest of Yorkshire.
However on Wednesday it positively glowed in the early Spring sunshine as I walked across Centenary Square with its mirror pool shimmering and carnival acts performing.
It was Welcome to Yorkshire’s annual conference Y18: Yorkshire on Show at the historic Alhambra Theatre.
Sir Gary Verity and his team squeeze as much positivity about the region into the two hour jamboree as they possibly can.
Where else can you go to see a former winner of Leeds Piano Festival, concert pianist Sofya Gulyak, given a standing ovation by North Yorkshire dry stone waller Richard Clegg?
Of course there was plenty to talk about with the upcoming Tour de Yorkshire, Great Exhibition of the North and Britney Spears at the Open Air Theatre in Scarborough in the summer.
(It wasn’t so much Hit Me Baby One More Time as you could have knocked me down with a feather on that last piece of news.).
The positivity level was so high that Welcome to Yorkshire even managed to make the prospect of regional devolution during a discussion with two council leaders and a chief executive sound like something we should be looking forward to.
Given it has taken Yorkshire’s small-minded and squabbling local authorities years to finally agree on a joint approach to regional governance (well, jointly, minus Sheffield and Rotherham) may be we shouldn’t hold our breath while they negotiate things with the Government.
It is probably quite apt that the Alhambra Theatre is famous for its panto starring spiky-haired funnyman Billy Pearce.
When he takes to the stage in Aladdin next Christmas it will be his 20th pantomime season at the Alhambra.
A total of 96,000 people went to see him in the last panto, and, asked by host Rob Walker what had changed over the last two decades he said while many of the traditional parts of pantomime had remained the same, the shows had embraced new technology and 3D imagery.
“I’ve also had to change a few of my jokes,” revealed Billy. “Before the Broadway Shopping Centre was built the site was an empty building site in the centre of the city for years.
“I used to say I had a Bradford advent calendar – most of the windows were boarded up and there is a hole in the middle. I can’t do that any more!”
Now locals are waiting to see if the controversial plans to convert the former Odeon building into a new 4,000 capacity live performance venue will finally see fruition.
“I hope I live to see the Odeon finished,” said Billy, to nods from many in the audience.
“I’m originally from Leeds, I’ve been around a bit, I used to be a window cleaner at Kirkstall Abbey.”
Cut to a live video interview with the boss of the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster who was standing in front of the park’s popular Polar Bear Experience.
Two of the bears played in the water behind her before one wandered off leaving his pal to recline in such a sensual and suggestive way that it was perhaps reminiscent of Stormy Daniels’ last meeting with Donald Trump.
It was probably apt that next onto the Alhambra stage was Dominic Brunt, who plays vet Paddy Kirk on long-running soap opera Emmerdale.
I’d have asked him what he would have prescribed a passionate polar bear, but instead Rob Walker chose to discuss the popularity of the Yorkshire-based soap.
Apparently Dominic said he went on a charity trip to Lapland last Christmas and locals shouted “Paddy!” at him. I’d imagine if the local reindeer had recognised him they might have been nervous about him giving them a once-over.
This was the 10th Welcome to Yorkshire annual conference. Back in 2009 tourism was worth around £5.7bn to the Yorkshire economy and newly published research from Sheffield Business School found that that had risen to £8bn in 2016.
If they are anything like me delegates always come away from these events with an even longer wish list of places to visit and things to do in Yorkshire as well as a host of fascinating facts.
Did you know that this year is the 300th anniversary of the birth of that master furniture maker and strip show impresario Thomas Chippendale?
The Otley-born craftsman is being celebrated at an exhibition of his work and life at Burton Constable Hall between March and November.
Or that it is 250 years since Captain James Cook set sail from Whitby on his epic voyage?
His brother Thomas seemed to make more money out of travel than him but it is James they will be celebrating at a weekend festival in Whitby in July.
Broughton Hall is holding a Children’s Literature Festival in September which organisers’ hope will be a Northern equivalent of the Hay, Cheltenham and Bath literary festivals.
Appearing will be Clare Balding, Sir Chris Hoy, Children’s Laureate Lauren Child and Rob Bradley, a storyteller, songwriter and rapper who gave a poignant performance at Y18.
The Tour de Yorkshire will visit 169 towns and villages over four days in May while York is the current Racecourse of the Year.
Staying in York, the historic walled city will welcome Europe’s first ever pop-up Shakepearean theatre between June and September.
Constructed on a car park next to the 13th century Clifford’s Tower, the Rose Theatre, which will be similar in look to the Globe in London, will put on four of the Bard’s most popular plays: Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth and Richard III.
Shakespeare’s plays drip with wonderful, memorable lines…
“Romeo, Romeo! Where for art thou Romeo?”
“The course of true love never did run smooth.”
“A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse! I’ve not had a winner since last year’s Ebor meeting.”
Have a great weekend.