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STATESIDE SUCCESS FOR LETCHWORTH MANUFACTURER |
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Monday, 08 May 2006 |
Twelve months of intense negotiations have finally paid off for Letchworth based Apex Security Engineering, with the news that the company has received approval from the United States General Services Administration (GSA), enabling it to supply its products to the US government. It is one of only 20 UK companies to have won this approval.
Apex Security Engineering designs, manufactures and supplies metal-based security systems and products to organisations demanding high security such as banks, large corporations, government agencies and the armed forces.
Managing director Kevin Woods, turned to UK Trade & Investment for help in expanding this business in the Unites States.
"Although we had always felt our security systems would appeal to Federal Markets and other foreign governments, for a relatively small organisation such as ours, approaching these markets was a hugely daunting prospect," he said.
"UK Trade & Investment's Passport to Export scheme definitely gave us the initial impetus and it is doubtful whether we could have embarked on this export initiative without their continued support".
UK Trade & Investment, the government organisation that helps UK companies trade internationally, has provided assistance to the company since 2003 through its local international trade team based at East of England International in St Albans, Hertfordshire.
As part of Passport to Export scheme, Apex developed a strategic plan to export, visited the US and took advantage of meeting UK Trade & Investment staff based at the British Embassy. They arranged introductions to several potential US clients and initiated Apex's participation in a UK Trade Mission to FOSE, the Federal Government IT security exhibition in March 2006.
Carmel McKean, UK Trade & Investment International Trade Adviser, said
"Since joining the Passport to Export Programme, Apex's overseas sales have increased by ten percent and this is set to double next year. The company is now developing its product range to fit better with the needs of US Federal Markets".
Kevin Woods also said "The effort involved in achieving our GSA Contract approval has been well worthwhile as it now opens up the massive Federal market to us".
"We're proud to be one of a select group of just 20 approved UK-based companies on the GSA list. We are certainly one of the smallest."
Apex, has a staff of 35 and an annual turnover of £2m. More information on its products can be found at http://www.apexsecurityfurniture.com
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