HOWZAT! WORCESTERSHIRE COMPANY BOWLS OUT COMPETITION AND NETS CONTRACT FOR THE CRICKET WORLD CUP

Neal Radford, Managing Director of Radford™ Ezy Net™ Ltd from Bishampton, Worcestershire, former England and Worcestershire player and ex Wisden Cricketer of the Year, has been awarded the contract to provide his company’s cricket netting systems for next year’s Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean, with help from UK Trade & Investment.

The Radford Ezy Net system is the world’s leading portable and demountable net system and is simply retracted and stored when not in use. Unlike traditional cricket nets or cricket cages, which occupy large areas of space that can’t be used for anything else, the Radford™ Ezy Net™ systems are quick to erect, easy to remove and provide security, long life and flexibility, are aesthetically pleasing and overcome the issues of maintenance, covering of wickets and health & safety concerns.

This makes the system ideal for use in the World Cup where there are nine major Test venues and 18 practice areas spread across the Caribbean:Place Islands, which include Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, Grenada and Trinidad.

Neal took part in a UKTI trade visit to the Caribbean in April specifically organized to find export opportunities for West Midlands companies. The visit was particularly relevant with the approaching World Cup held from March-April 2007.

Neal, a Lord Taverner’s member and player for the famed charity The Bunbury Club, said:

“ I started to make enquiries about the possibility of getting our product to the World Cup some time back. As a small business, I have particularly appreciated the mentoring provided by my International trade adviser Linda Smith. The support from UKTI has been very instrumental in helping me to get where I am and I can’t praise their help enough. The trade visit was really useful as I was able to speak to the right people who were able to make this possible.

The World Cup is a major sporting event and the kudos for us to be involved is terrific. Obviously cricket is very close to my heart as an ex-international player, and I am looking forward to providing quality services and products for a quality event.

Linda has mentioned their Passport programme and I will be looking at this service soon to see if UKTI can help the business further. Radford™ Ezy Net™ also designs and installs a range of artificial surfaces in a multitude of sports and we are always looking at ways to expand our markets.”

Radford™ Ezy Net™ was established in 1993.

Senior International Trade Advisor Linda Smith, based at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, said:

“ I have been delighted to help. Ezy Net™ has used the UKTI support to optimize its overseas development. Neal came to see the local team of trade advisors and discussed his plans and we arranged the initial visit. Actually visiting the target countries and having face-to-face sales presentations has created substantial new export business for the company. The UKTI Market Visit Scheme is a highly effective and practical product for SMEs to use.”