Funding award opens a world of opportunity for Horizon Works

A North-East based B2B marketing agency has been awarded funding to support its exporting activities in North America after winning a grant from Heathrow’s World of Opportunity SME Grants Programme.

Horizon Works is one of only 20 companies throughout the whole of the UK to have been awarded funding as part of Heathrow Airport’s World of Opportunity programme.

In partnership with the Department for International Trade, the World of Opportunity programme aims to provide 20 SMEs across the UK with the financial boost needed to explore and develop export opportunities through trade missions, trade shows or market research. When departing from Heathrow, the SMEs will also be provided with a Plaza Premium lounge pass.

Established more than eight years ago, Horizon Works specialises in working with B2B organisations from innovation-led industries such as manufacturing, engineering, healthcare, life sciences and technology. It delivers and covers a multitude of services for its clients from marketing, strategy, and PR to digital and design and has a multi-disciplined team of writers, designers, digital experts, and public relations, communications and marketing specialists.

After a period of sustained growth and having recently rebranded, Horizon Works is now acting on its international growth ambitions as it continues to add to its ongoing client base. Horizon Works has been working with its first overseas client, Ohio-based AmeriWater – which provides premium water treatment equipment – for almost a year, and the funding will allow the Newcastle-headquartered agency to further capitalise on this.

Ohio is a key manufacturing hub in the United States and is the home of a concentration of launchpad for its growth in North America. The grant will support Horizon Works in engaging with key industry networks based in Ohio such as America Makes, which aims to accelerate the adoption of additive manufacturing technologies in the US manufacturing sector and to increase domestic manufacturing competitiveness.

By becoming members of key networks such as this, Horizon Works will gain access to a diverse range of manufacturing businesses, based both in Ohio and surrounding States, and it will also allow the business to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the manufacturing market in North America.

Samantha Davidson, Managing Director of Horizon Works commented: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this funding and cannot thank Heathrow and the Department for International Trade enough. It is fantastic that they are helping UK businesses (particularly SMEs) to export and reach their full potential.

“This opportunity will benefit us massively by helping us to capitalise on our international growth, especially in light of us recently securing our first overseas client and we are excited to see the opportunities that this will create for Horizon Works.”

Emma Gilthorpe, Heathrow’s Executive Expansion Director said: “We’re thrilled to be working with the DIT for the second year to support these entrepreneurs as they look to expand their business abroad. Our airport plays a crucial role connecting British people, goods and services to the world, and now with the World of Opportunity programme we’re able to help these businesses as they begin their exporting journeys.”

David Coppock, Regional Director of the North East Department for International Trade commented: “I’m delighted to see Horizon Works win this national award and act as an exemplar for internationalising their business … it is also great to see the drive and enthusiasm to work with partners such as DIT here and in market to increase their sales globally.”

Horizon Works boasts a diverse set of clients which serve an international client base such as Murgitroyd, a global firm of European patent attorneys and trade mark attorneys, Parker Bioscience Filtration Division, a global leader in filtration solutions and Fera, which works across plant and bee health, crop protection, sustainable agriculture, food and feed quality, and chemical safety in the environment.

To find out more about Horizon Works and the work that it does visit www.horizonworks.co.uk..