Real Export Stories. Practical Lessons. Actionable Insights.

Running from mid-morning through to the afternoon, Take Off is where businesses share the reality of exporting. Through a series of focused 20-minute presentations and Q&A sessions, you'll hear directly from businesses that have successfully navigated international growth. Discover the decisions they made, the challenges they faced and the lessons they learned along the way.

Take Off is organised around three stages of the export journey, allowing you to focus on the topics most relevant to your business.
 

2. Reach the customer
Explore the routes, partnerships and strategies businesses used to connect with customers overseas. Learn how exporters built credibility, generated sales and entered new markets successfully.
 

Take Off drop-in sessions include 

Agent, distributor or direct?
One offer. Three routes. One choice.

Hear from Richard Paxman, CEO of Paxman Coolers Ltd, as he shares the decisions behind building an international sales strategy and choosing the right route to market.

Expanding internationally isn't just about finding customers. It's about deciding how to reach them. In this session, Richard will explore the advantages, challenges and trade-offs of working through agents, distributors or direct sales channels, and how those choices can influence growth, customer relationships and long-term success.
 

How we found our first overseas buyer
From first contact to first order.

Winning your first international customer can be one of the hardest and most important milestones in an export journey. How do you identify the right opportunity, build credibility in a new market and turn interest into sales?

Join Mark Crabtree, Founder and Managing Director of AMS Neve Ltd, as he shares the lessons behind growing a British manufacturing business into a globally recognised exporter. Discover how AMS Neve built relationships with customers around the world, secured international sales and established a presence in more than 100 countries.
 

The order we nearly couldn't deliver
Logistics, documentation and regulations tested us.

Even after you've won the order, international trade can present unexpected challenges. From export documentation and customs requirements to shipping delays and compliance hurdles, a single issue can put a deal at risk.

Join Daniel Warner, Director at Ohbot Ltd, for an honest account of the challenges that threatened a major export order and the lessons learned from getting the deal across the line. Discover how preparation, problem-solving and the right support helped turn a potentially costly setback into a successful export outcome.
 

When innovation meets regulation
What happens when technology moves faster than the rules?

Innovation creates opportunity, but bringing new technologies to market often means navigating complex regulations, compliance requirements and industry standards, particularly when operating internationally.

Hear from Joshua Western, CEO and Co-Founder of Space Forge, as he shares the challenges of scaling a pioneering space technology business in a rapidly evolving regulatory environment. Discover how Space Forge has balanced innovation with compliance, overcome market barriers and worked with regulators to help unlock new commercial opportunities.
 

We followed the customer, not the map
The customer need led us to the right market.

Hear from Dr Richard Fairchild, Chief Operating Officer at Aurrigo International plc, as he shares how customer demand, rather than a predefined export strategy, helped shape the company's international growth journey.

Discover how Aurrigo identified opportunities in global markets, adapted its approach to meet customer needs and built a presence in the rapidly evolving autonomous vehicle sector. From spotting demand to securing international contracts, this session explores the importance of listening to customers, challenging assumptions and following where the opportunity leads.
 

Drop into Take Off sessions throughout the day, visit the Horizons main stage for headline discussions, access specialist support in the Growth Lab, build connections in the Business Lounge and commit to your next step through Make Your Move. The day is designed to be flexible, allowing you to build an agenda around your business's ambitions, challenges and growth plans.