Small and medium-sized companies should take advantage of overseas markets and export more, according to a study by the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC).

The BCC survey of 3,500 companies found that the majority of small firms only export after being approached by their customers or a distributor and that 50% of SMEs said exports did not feature in their business plan.

"Exporting is vital to the future growth of the UK economy, not just in manufacturing but services as well. Thanks to our membership of the EU, we have a home market of nearly 500m consumers and we should be using it as much as our European competitors are," said David Frost, BCC Director General.