Department for International Trade launches new Export Strategy

This week, the UK government has issued its new UK Export Strategy, which has at its centre a 12 point plan to raise UK export levels, with reference to UK Export Finance, Trade Academy and other measures.

The “Made in the UK, Sold to the World” export strategy introduces a set of tools to support businesses in international expansion and helps 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.