Liquorice maker: 'Exports insure against a UK downturn'

The government looks set to miss its target to double exports by 2020 following figures on Friday which showed the gap between imports and exports was at its widest for almost a year.

Increasing exports could help pay off Britain's debt and bring other benefits; Carl Richardson from Bolton-based liquorice maker Maxlin Crawford said, "Having an export business is like a small insurance policy against a downturn in the UK market."

Institute of Export boss Lesley Batchelor told BBC Breakfast that small businesses were struggling to get financial help to expand abroad.