Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has secured new trade deals with the US and the EU and Merseyside brand marketing specialist Wild Thang says this is great news for its international ambitions. Tony McDonough reports

Small firms looking to do business overseas will benefit from new trade deals struck by the UK Government, one Merseyside manufacturer says.

In the past few days Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced a new trade deal with the European Union as he seeks to strengthen ties following Brexit. This follows on from new trade agreements with India and the US.

From its base in Bootle, close to the Port of Liverpool, Wild Thang manufactures and supplies a myriad of branded uniforms and other corporate and promotion materials to multiple blue-chip clients including McDonald’s, Paddy Power and retail giant B&M.

During and since the pandemic the family firm, headed by managing director and founder Andrew Dwerryhouse, has invested more than £2m in an expansion of its HQ, new machinery and hiring new staff.

Britain formally left the EU customs union in 2020 following the Brexit vote in 2016. This created barriers both for importers and exporters. Wild Thang has clients within the EU so, in early 2022, it established an office warehousing and distribution base in the Republic of Ireland.

Buoyed by the success of this investment Wild Thang expanded its international footprint further in 2024 by launching a similar operation in New Jersey on the east coast of the US.

This ambitious strategy has further fuelled growth at Wild Thang and led to a number of awards. Late last year it scooped the International Award at the Liverpool Chamber Innovation in Business Awards.

The business is in line for a further accolade this summer after being shortlisted in the Business Supplier of the Year category at the City of Liverpool Business Awards 2025.

Andrew says the easier it is for SMEs such as Wild Thang to do business overseas the better it is for the UK economy. He has welcomed the latest announcement from the Prime Minister about the EU.

“This latest agreement focuses on things such as food exports to the EU but the Prime Minister added that this was ‘only the “beginning of a process’ of establishing strong ties with the EU,”said Andrew.

“In an ideal world we would have remained in the EU but the country voted to leave and you have to accept that. As a business we didn’t complain.

“Instead we found a way to make it work and continue trading overseas focusing on our company mission to deliver one world-class solution that elevates branded clothing, merchandise and print through more sustainable practices and ethical production – the Wild Thang Way.

“Now with the UK Government strengthening trade ties with our key international markets in Europe and the US, that gives us the confidence to continue to invest, grow our business and take on more staff.

“There are no barriers to excellence and our customers in other countries appreciate the quality of our products and service. 

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“We believe our commitment to ESG, that has made us one of the most sustainable and certified companies in our sector, will make us even more attractive to our global clients.

“So any changes to relations between companies that makes doing business easier with less barriers can only be a good thing that will hopefully support further sales growth outside the UK.”

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