Hilary Charman started her international sales and marketing career selling packaging machinery in the Black Forest in Germany. Prior to that, she worked as European marketing manager for a swimming costume company, then as an export sales manager, travelling three weeks a month to visit distributors and run overseas national accounts. She also owned a translation agency, and worked as an export communications consultant advising UK companies how to offer their overseas customers the highest level of customer care. Hilary has worked for the Department for International Trade in Somerset since 2006, and advised hundreds of companies on all matters to do with exporting. She manages four clusters (food, drink, baby products and products for animals) to help companies overcome export barriers through networking.