Import & Export Support
Expanding into new markets can be a daunting step for any business but international trade can be an excellent way to grow your business and diversify your proposition.
It is important to plan and do your research into market expansion. This will allow you to look at the possibilities, create an export plan and set targets that will enable you to keep on track.
Our team can put you in contact with trusted international trade experts and resources, as well as provide advice on key areas including regulations, finances, language and cultural considerations.
The Department for International Trade (DIT)
Through its “Made in the UK, Sold to the World” export campaign, the Department for International Trade (DIT) is committed to helping UK businesses, signposting them to the support they need to seize international trade opportunities.
Local export support
Through the DIT’s Yorkshire and the Humber regional office, you can gain access to International Trade Advisors (ITAs) who are both sector and exporting specialists. They help you get ready to export, identify target export markets, assess market readiness and review barriers to entry. ITAs also help you to get in front of potential customers and partners by working with DIT’s international network, conducting trade missions an attending tradeshows.
The advice and support from an ITAs is free. To discuss working with one, you can find the contact details of your local DIT Yorkshire and the Humber office at: www.great.gov.uk/contact/office-finder/
UK Export Academy
The Export Academy is a free, comprehensive training offer to help you learn how to sell to international customers and secure contracts around the world.
The Export Academy includes a foundation course and market access events as well as sector specific webinars, masterclasses and virtual trade missions.
Open to any business with a products or service that can be sold internationally, the Export Academy is designed for owners and senior managers of businesses who are either starting to export or looking to grow their international sales further.
Sign up is easy at: www.events.great.gov.uk/exportacademy
Internationalisation Fund
DIT’s Internationalisation Fund provides match-funded grants of between £1,000 and £9,000 to help first time exporters and those seeking additional international markets. The support helps towards the costs of a range of activities to internationalise a product or service and allow you to confidently trade internationally. The fund can support:
- Market research and product or service amendments for international market
- IP (intellectual property) advice and standards and regulations
- Translation services for website pages, videos and labelling
- International social media and strategic marketing
- Independent market visits, trade fair entry and travel and accommodation costs
- Consultancy and other international commercial services
UK Trade Show Programme
Attending overseas trade shows can help you to make new contacts, grow your brand and break into new markets. The UK Tradeshow Programme from DIT offers support to help UK businesses attend or exhibit at select overseas trade shows.
Find out more at www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-tradeshow-programme
Export Champions
DIT’s Export Champion Community of experienced exporters are happy to offer their time to help you grow private sector links through the exporting journey. The Export Champions are primarily CEOs, Sales Directors or Export Managers from a wide variety of sectors. They are ready to share their knowledge and personal stories to help promote exporting – encouraging and inspiring new and fledgling exporters to do the same.
To hear from an Export Champion, contact your local DIT Yorkshire and the Humber office at: www.great.gov.uk/contact/office-finder/
Export Support Service
The service is the first point of contact for all UK businesses to get answers to questions about exporting their goods or services to customers in Europe. This free service is available to no matter the size of your business or which part of the UK you are based.
For help with exporting to Europe contact the Export Support Service online at Ask the export support team a question – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or call 0300 303 8955.
International Market Support
As part of Export Support Service, you can now also access international market export support around the world through nine international market hubs.
The service is designed to help you access opportunities in specific markets, and give you access to specialist market advice, sector reports, market intelligence and introductions to commercial private sector providers.
For more information, including how to access the service and the eligibility criteria, please visit: www.gov.uk/guidance/access-international-market-export-support
UK Export Finance
UK Export Finance (UKEF) is a government department and the UK’s export credit agency. UKEF supports UK companies to export with confidence by providing tailored support to meet the individual needs of each business. Products provided by UKEF help you to:
- Win contracts by providing attractive financing terms to their buyers
- Fulfil orders by supporting working capital and trade finance
- Get paid by insuring against buyer default
Typically, UKEF helps businesses to complement and partner with banking and credit insurance commercial providers, and bridges the gap between what banks and insurers can support and what businesses actually need to confidently trade with new and expanding overseas markets.
Export Finance Managers are regional representatives of UKEF and provide free and impartial guidance on your export finance needs. A global network of international export finance executives are also on hand in key export markets and regions to discuss financing options available, to support the supply of UK goods and services.
A list of UKEF Export Finance Managers and their contact information can be found at www.gov.uk/government/publications/find-an-export-finance-manager
Support from the Growth Hub
Wherever you are in your business journey and regardless of the sector that you operate in, we can provide free business support aimed at helping you to succeed. If you would like to speak with one of our advisors about the wide range of support available, please contact us.
Articles
Help is one call away: how the Growth Hub helpdesk can support you
Are you thinking about starting, growing, or scaling your business? Hear about how the Growth Hub helpdesk can help you by providing the latest business support, tailored to your needs.
New support for York and North Yorkshire businesses as leading regional media figure joins the Growth Hub
Mike Pennington, a familiar name in the UK media industry, has recently joined the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub as a Business Relationship Manager. In 2023, he'll be bringing his expertise to businesses in our region and connecting them with the Made Smarter scheme.
York, North Yorkshire and East Riding employers urged not to miss out on free skills training
Employers across York, North Yorkshire and East Riding are being reminded that it’s their last chance to take advantage of free training and support through the Skills Support for the Workforce Programme before the it ends in March 2023.
Events
15th February 20239:00 am - 5:00 pmFREE
15 Feb - Harrogate Co-Lab: Business Support Drop-In Session
This free drop-in service based in Harrogate can help answer your questions and direct you to relevant business support, resources and programmes.
22nd February 20239:00 am - 4:30 pmFREE
22 Feb - Pitching Perfectly - To win new business
Are you a small to medium sized food or drink business that wants to win more business and need to plan the perfect pitch? This full day workshop will help you understand what buyers are looking for and give you the confidence to pitch to them.
01st March 20234:00 pm - 6:00 pmFREE
1 March - Ian Howard- The Enterprise Growth Roadmap
In this two-hour session, Ian Howard will introduce The Enterprise Growth Roadmap. Regardless of where you are at right now, whether you are just launching your business, trying to make sense of the number of opportunities available to you or looking to attract external investment, the Enterprise Growth Roadmap Planning Workshop will help you create a framework to develop your own growth strategy together with some simple steps to help you implement it.
Resources
Glossary of Climate Change Terms for Businesses
A free digital glossary defining the key climate change terms relevant to businesses, to help you understand and engage with sustainability resources and support.
2022 Seminar Recordings
We have recently hosted a programme of in-person seminars and other events, some of which were professionally recorded and can now be viewed on our website.
Seminar Recording : Access to finance: Funding growth
This workshop will provide guidance on cost based pricing, calculating your costs before deciding an appropriate margin, as well as covering market based pricing asking questions such as: What value do you add? What are you worth? How do you position yourself?
