For small and medium-sized UK-based hydro companies that are looking to grow internationally, the UK government has launched a series of regional seminars to explain how to claim insurance and finance services from the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ecgd).

In the last year, ECGD has issued £5.5B (US$8.25B) of guarantees and 15% of these went to small and medium-sized companies (SMEs).

‘Research has shown that a good number of SMEs either turn down potential overseas export opportunities because they are afraid they won’t get paid by their overseas customers, or are exporting without sufficient insurance,’ said Trade Minister Richard Caborn. ‘I want to make sure that these companies are fully aware that ECGD is around to help them, offering them a variety of insurance and finance.’