SME contractors head to Middle East for work

Small construction companies are being shown how to chase work in the Middle East -just as the economy in Dubai starts to wobble.

Around 65 British businesses set up shop in Dubai last week at the region's biggest trade fair to seek out partnerships with local firms.

Scaffolding firm Turner Access of Glasgow, dewatering expert Water and Power Engineering of Bristol and insulation firm Kingspan were among the companies exhibiting at The Big 5 event.

The Construction Products Association (CPA) supported theshow,which coincided with the biggest ever trade mission to the region led by UK Trade and Investment. But it took place against a backdrop of uncertainty in the emirate as Dubai's property market started to flounder due to a lack of funding and falling prices.

CPA communication director Simon Storer said the falling value of the pound had made the export market an attractive prospect for struggling firms and that there was still plenty of business in the Middle East.

He said: "The number of companies that showed an interest in coming over to The Big 5 was three times the number that actually went out there.It makes sense because if the economy and market in the UK is contracting, companies naturally want to replace their opportunities. If they're not providing products for the home market then they obviously want the option to look at exporting."

But Storer warned firms thinking of "dipping their toe" overseas, to make it a long-term strategy.

He said: "You need to make a real commitment to understand how the market works."

Storer said UK embassies in Hong Kong, China and South Africa had also expressed interest in attracting exports from British construction product manufacturers.