A Liverpool cable accessories manufacturer has won the North West Passport to Export Award 2010, organised by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), in recognition of its work to drive overseas trade. E-Tech Components, based in Gillmoss, scooped the Merseyside award and the overall North West award at a ceremony held at Knowsley Hall last night. The company only started exporting three years ago, but overseas trade now makes up half of its £1.2m turnover. Managing director Chris Montgomery said: “Until 2006, overseas trade was a low priority for us. We were not really aware of our export potential, and when our website generated queries from the Middle East, it took us a while to take them seriously.” After participating in the UKTI’s Passport to Export scheme, E-Tech now exports to Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea and the US. Other winners last night included Burscough-based Swimfin, which produces a self-adjusting buoyancy aid for children. The company won the export award for Lancashire.