Lord Green Visits Harper Chalice

One of the foremost figures in international trade visited Harper Chalice Group Limited in Coventry who are proving how exporting boosts business. Lord Green, the Minister for Trade and Investment – who retires from his role next month – was in the city as part of Export Week, which promotes overseas trade to firms across the country.

Lord Green accompanied Christine Hamilton and Mick Page of the Chamber’s UKTI international trade team and Roy Pulley of the Manufacturing Advisory Service to meet staff and directors at Harper Chalice, in Binns Close.

Harper Chalice is a manufacturer and supplier of high-tech electronic and electrified perimeter security systems, which is now deployed around the world protecting all types of premises from VIP residences to Royal palaces and normal commercial risks to Critical National Infrastructure and High profile sports stadia.

Managing director Graham Harper said: “We’ve had excellent support from the MAS and UKTI in a very joined up way. We now have a well-established UK market and are actively selling our electronic and electrified perimeter security systems throughout Europe and the Middle and Far East.

“Our electronic perimeter security systems were used in the Olympic project – not just protecting the Games themselves, but protecting the building projects in the run-up to the Olympics.

“That meant that when the recession hit, we had a good stream of work and we were able to continue to invest in technology and further product development.

“This is paying off now and it was great to share our story with Lord Green and he encouraged us to look at further markets now.”

“The UKTI team at the Chamber have been a great help in identifying and researching new markets and it is certainly a key driver for growth for the company.

“We would certainly recommend that other businesses make use of the services available because there is definitely a world of opportunity out there.”

Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Chamber, said:

“Export Week is a very important period to highlight the importance of overseas trade but our efforts when it comes to export are 365 days a year.

“That is why we have launched our Coventry and Warwickshire International Trade Hub here at Chamber House because we want more and more companies to benefit from selling their goods and services overseas and we thank Lord Green for highlighting that message over the past three years.”