Alan Pain joins from his latest role as Corporate Director at Fenland Council, where in addition to his corporate responsibilities he had a focus on economic development.
Alan comes with a fantastic blend of private and public sector experience. Now charged with maintaining and increasing the enormous potential export growth for the region, Alan said:
“The East of England is an exporting powerhouse and we want to aim higher still to export more than ever this year. The challenge for me lies with increasing the number of companies across the region exporting to meet the national target of getting 100,000 more companies exporting by 2020. Having worked to support businesses across the East of England for the last 11 years I am more than well aware of the huge number of innovative and successful firms that are based here, and will be focusing my efforts on converting successful companies into successful exporters. It’s a big challenge, but I strongly believe that exporting is how we are going to continue to promote the growth of the local economy.”
Alan’s career experience spans both the private and public sectors, with a focus on enterprise, business growth and partnership development. In the commercial sector, Alan worked extensively in the automotive industry on a range of international products and programmes and also managed and led a successful private business based in the region.
In 2004, he joined the Regional Development Agency network where he headed the Business and Enterprise agenda throughout the East of England. This included responsibility for business services such as business link, financial support, and inward investment.
From 2009, as a Local Government Director and Chief Officer, Alan oversaw business relationships, investment, economic development and planning delivery. He also served as a non-executive Director with the Chamber of Commerce in Cambridgeshire.
Alan has lived in the East of England for over 16 years. He holds a degree in Engineering and Commerce and a Diploma in Industrial Studies from the University of Birmingham and is a Member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology. In his spare time he enjoys running, cycling and motorcycle sport, and serves as a non-executive Director of Living Sport.
Alan continued: “I have worked closely with the region’s businesses for a number of years and recognise the challenges and issues faced by firms in the global economy.
“A key focus for me now will be exploring how we can encourage firms to export for the first time, to use digital technology, and to embrace emerging markets. While the EU is still the East of England’s biggest market, growth will also come from places like Brazil, Russia, India and China. And that’s what I am here to help with: ensuring firms in the region have the support necessary to embrace this.
“Our region has many strong successful sectors – from engineering to agriculture to research and development - and I intend to ensure every business in the region is in line for a share of global contracts.”
To find out more about UK Trade & Investment services in the East of England contact your local International Trade team:
Tel: 01707 398398
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.gov.uk/ukti
Follow @UKTIEast
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