UK export strategy to aid SMEs

The DIT’s Director General for Exports briefs commercial attachés on a plan to boost SME trade with overseas markets

The ambitious export strategy ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World’ aims to equip British businesses, particularly SMEs, with the information and skills they need to seek out new markets globally, Andrew Mitchell, Director General for Exports and UK Trade at the Department for International Trade, told trade attachés at an event hosted by the Association for Economic Representatives in London at the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

Trade attachés learned about the DIT’s ambitious 12-point strategy, which includes:

  • The provision of a free Export Support Service providing a single point of contact for exporters to Europe with an export hotline and online service
  • A UK Export Academy to offer SMEs 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 targeted to give UK companies, especially SMEs, a leg-up to exhibit their products at the world’s biggest tradeshows.
  • Export Finance – the UK’s export credit agency 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
  • An Internationalisation Fund, open to SMEs in England, will aim to grow international sales

Providing export assistance to businesses and analysing the nature of the enquires was also a useful learning exercise for the Department for International Trade and information gleaned would help to inform future trade policy and agreements, said Mitchell.

Photo:: DIT Director General for Exports and UK Trade Andrew Mitchell addresses trade attachés