Botham supports Northern Powerhouse SMEs in Australia export drive

Electronics manufacturing SMEs from the Northern Powerhouse region have gathered in Leeds to boost their exports to Australia, supported by Lord Botham, formerly cricketer Ian Botham, the UK Government’s trade envoy to Australia.

“The round-table included 20 UK business heads, representing a mix of businesses who either already export to Australia and New Zealand, or are eyeing the region for potential future expansion,” said Mike Black, a director at jukebox maker Sound Leisure, at whose headquarters the event was held. “The group discussed the pros and cons [see below] of working with partners in Australia and New Zealand, and shared advice on how those with prior experience had handled the challenges and benefited from extending their reach there. We also heard from companies who have used government-funded schemes to assist in the costs of investigating and developing new export markets.”

One reason that Sound Leisure was picked to host the event is that it is a multiple winner of ‘Northern Powerhouse Export Champion’ status from the Department for Business and Trade.

Sound Leisure director Mike Black, Lord Botham OBE, and a Leeds-made hand-crafted jukebox

Trading in Leeds for 45 years, the £5m family-run company employs more 40 people, and has an 80,000ft² factory making vinyl-single-playing electronic-mechanical and all-digital jukeboxes, 80% of which are exported, to over 40 countries including the US and Japan. Australian’s have been customers for over 20 years, and 15 of its jukeboxes were shipped to Australia in the last year.

“Sound Leisure is a mainly export business, and anytime we can move forward our knowledge of overseas markets, and share our experiences and insights with other exporters and businesses, we grab the opportunity,” said Black.

Lord Botham OBE is an unpaid and voluntary trade envoy, tasked with boosting British business in Australia.

Mike Black’s pros and cons of trading with Australia:

Same language, similar cultural values and backgrounds, similar legal and intellectual property frameworks, straight-forward no-nonsense attitude to business, Australia as a gateway to the wider Asian Pacific region.

Time difference, physical distance from the UK, complexities of navigating legal and certification requirements for any export location.

Photos: Mike Black and Lord Botham OBE and a at the Sound Leisure factory