Royal Bank of Scotland : Guest blog: Seven reasons you can't afford not to export

Of the 5.4m businesses in the UK, 99 per cent are classed as SMEs and the majority of those are described as micro-businesses. Here in Yorkshire we boast more than 380,000 businesses and, like the rest of the UK, most are SMEs.

Put simply, small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy and we must do everything we can to help them grow and prosper. The most effective way of finding growth and building a robust business is by engaging in international trade, but as an example only around 11 per cent of companies in my region, Yorkshire, export their goods and services.

First-time exporters are critical to the future of Yorkshire and the wider UK economy and the world is hungry for Brand Britain. There really has never been a better time to explore new markets and seek out lucrative new relationships overseas.

For first-time exporters there are a multitude of benefits for their business. Here are some of the key reasons for breaking into international trade.