Author Archives: Clive Drinkwater

Clive Drinkwater

About Clive Drinkwater

Clive Drinkwater is the regional director for UK Trade and Investment in the North West Region, responsible for helping North West businesses achieve success in overseas markets. Clive has taken up this role following extensive private sector experience in international trade, working in industry and selling to over 90 countries worldwide. Clive has particular experience in Asia, having gained first hand experience of the area during spells living and working in Indonesia, Malaysia and China

My ten year forecast: export far and wide, or fail

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Clive Drinkwater

I’ve always been entertained by what I know as Fiedler’s Rules of Forecasting.  They’ve been attributed to a range of people from Winston Churchill to Cecil B DeMille and I’m sure we’ll never know who actually came up with them.  … Continue reading →

India – an unexplored opportunity?

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Clive Drinkwater

 It’s always fascinating to go back to a country that you haven’t visited for a while.  So it was with my visit to India last week, my first for about nine years.  My parents used to live in Kerala and … Continue reading →

Like Giants Refreshed

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Clive Drinkwater

I hope you’ve returned from your Christmas and New Year break, as my old headmaster used to say, like giants refreshed. I always enjoy a long break myself and use it to recharge the batteries – more necessary this year … Continue reading →

Architects of their own (international) success

Posted on August 29, 2012 by Clive Drinkwater

I was thrilled to hear that the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) will be holding its prestigious Stirling Prize ceremony in Manchester for the first time on 13 October. I look forward to following the events on TV as they … Continue reading →

Looking ahead with confidence

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Clive Drinkwater

A couple of interesting surveys came across my desk recently.  The first was undertaken by North West Business Insider, supported by Ernst & Young looking at international trade patterns for North West firms.  View the survey here  I was struck by … Continue reading →

An Olympian effort for business

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Clive Drinkwater

As the Olympic torch arrives in the Chester next Monday on the first North West leg of its pre-games tour, I ask myself what it is about the Olympics that excites me so much.  As long ago as 1964, my … Continue reading →

New beginnings, an export challenge and taking the first step.

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Clive Drinkwater

I’ve been a bit distracted lately.  I had a marvellous holiday in Mexico with my wife and then came back to the birth of my new grand-daughter.  Ava Violet Elizabeth is absolutely gorgeous and I’m happy to report that mother … Continue reading →

Don’t be the world’s best kept secret!

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Clive Drinkwater

So, you’ve got a fantastic product or service offer and a terrific support network.  You run a tight ship, have high productivity and should be internationally competitive, but If nobody knows about you, you will never sell.  The answer is, … Continue reading →

Getting your overseas presence right

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Clive Drinkwater

In my exporting challenge blog I set a series of questions.  I now turn to the question of routes to market.  Luckily Doug Mahoney, UKTI’s Director-West Midlands, recently blogged on the subject and promised more in the future but I … Continue reading →

Einbahnstrasse to Exporting

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Clive Drinkwater

Any body reading my blogs will know that I enjoy food, all sorts of different food, so it was in search of a good schweinshaxe while attending the Frankfurt fair as a young exporter when I endured one of my … Continue reading →