WIREDGOV

The 12-point export strategy introduces a set of tools to support businesses in international expansion.

The Department for International Tarde has published a new UK export strategy “Made in the UK, Sold to the World” to help businesses across the UK double exports and sell products around the globe.

Despite being one of the world’s leading tech nations, we fall behind our European competitors in the number of tech exporters. Navigating market access barriers and limited financial resources to promote services to overseas buyers are some of the biggest challenges for tech MSMEs looking to scale beyond our borders.

The strategy includes an Export Support Service that offers a one-stop shop for exporting advice, and the launch of a new UK Tradeshow Programme to help businesses, particularly those outside London and the South East, to attend tradeshows and promote their products around the world.

DIT will also be expanding its Export Academy – launched in October – to roll it out across all of the UK including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The academy will invite owners and managers of SMEs to access masterclasses, roundtables and networking events that help them overcome common challenges first-time exporters face.

The 12-point strategy includes:

• Internationalisation Fund, open to SMEs in England, will aim to grow international sales, and has facilitated £4 million of support to SMEs attending Trade Fairs.
• A new Export Support Service which is an end-to-end service to support businesses exporting. Currently this only covers Europe, but this will cover all markets.
• New “Made in the UK, Sold to the World” campaign which will run concurrently and not replace the “GREAT” campaign.
• UK Export Academy expansion to offer SMEs in all parts of the UK, including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the chance to learn how to navigate the technicalities of exporting and how to find new opportunities in overseas markets.
• A new UK Tradeshow Programme to help UK firms exhibit at international trade shows.
• UK Export Finance will expand its offer with new products and a wider delivery network that will make it easier for UK exporters to secure business from overseas buyers.
• Export Champions, ensuring businesses can build and learn from exporting successes through business-to-business networking and peer-to-peer learning.

The full report can be accessed here.

In response to the announcement, Julian David, techUK CEO, yesterday said:

“A new Export Strategy is a welcome step towards driving growth beyond our borders for the UK tech sector. Navigating market access barriers, regulatory divergence, and challenges in service promotion to overseas buyers are some of the biggest difficulties for tech exports. This strategy provides the framework to assist companies in understanding the technicalities of exporting, improving their access to tradeshows and promoting the benefits of FTAs. We very much look forward to working with the government to make these instruments a success for our sector and bring our world-leading tech products and services to overseas markets. We encourage any member company that wants to grow its export business to join us in this.”