Bradford businesses have contributed to a new survey out today showing that confidence among exporting firms is at a record high, with most expecting their turnover to improve in the coming months.

A survey of more than 2,400 UK exporters found a third also predicted jobs will be created, with manufacturers the most optimistic.

But despite the healthy outlook, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and DHL Express said their research also showed more needed to be done to help reach the Government’s target of increasing exports to £1 trillion by 2020.

Almost half of exporters said sales increased in the last quarter of 2013, although the total volume of exports for goods fell by three per cent compared with the previous three months.

Paul Mackie, Bradford Chamber of Commerce president, backed the call for the Government to do more to support exporters.

He said: “It’s great to see that confidence is improving among exporters, even in the face of difficult trading conditions.

“The emerging markets show that there is still strength in the ‘Made in Britain’ label, one which we here in Bradford are still a vital contributor to.

“We’re confident that Bradford will remain strong in exporting manufactured goods, but also services for years to come and that more firms will start looking to export soon.

“We did have members take part in this survey and our own quarterly economic survey reported last month that export sales and orders are heading in the right direction.

“The right support structures need to be in place and there is plenty of support available locally through the Chamber. Government also needs to back international trade more so firms here can get a foot in the door of the new high-growth markets.”

Chamber, International, an offshoot of the Bradford Chamber which specialises in supporting exporters and importers, is co-ordinating the We are International Export Network on behalf of the Leeds City Region local enterprise partnership as part of a bid to increase regional exports by an extra £1.6 billion in the next five years.

Meanwhile, findings by accountants BDO show that business optimism reached its highest level for 22 years in January, with growth expected to rise rapidly over the next six months.

BDO said its ‘optimism index’, which predicts business performance two quarters ahead, reached 103.8 in January, up from 103.4 in December – the highest reading ever recorded.

Terry Jones, partner and head of BDO in Yorkshire, said: companies were recruiting in response to rising client demand and the outlook was for the economy to continue growing by increasing productivity – now at 2005 levels – before wage-related inflationary pressures kicked in.