Alison Appleton does not sell tea to China, but she does supply the next best thing - teapots.

Now the stunning designs the ceramics maker from Liverpool ships to China have earned her the title of Export Champion.

The accolade comes from the British government's export agency, UK Trade and Investment.

The young businesswoman and designer established her company in 1998, working from home. Her creations were an immediate hit with British stores such as Harrods, John Lewis and Marks & Spencer.

She moved into the world of exporting a few years ago when she traveled to one of the world's biggest business showcases, the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

Now a fifth of the teapots she produces at her studio in Liverpool are exported to East China, where the country's largest home goods stores are based, and she is considering setting up tea shops the country.

"Many designers visit the Canton Fair, and buyers choose a range of products and put their own brand on them," she said. "I have a degree in printed textiles and worked as a surface designer, creating patterns for ceramics. Later, I trained in mold making and began to experiment with creating my own shapes, and I brought out my own ranges."

The Export Champions program, now in its third year, involves recruiting successful international firms to help new companies on their export journey, offering peer-to-peer support in addition to the professional services available from the UK trade team.

Clive Drinkwater, regional director of UK Trade in northwest England, said, "Export Champions such as Alison will inspire and motivate those new to international trade, both by promoting the benefits of exports via their own successes, and by sharing their knowledge and experience."