Exporting goods and services for the first time – or expanding your exports to a new country – can be a hugely rewarding experience. But it can also seem an intimidating task.
The good news is that help is out there, with a wide range of free government support to help you successfully sell overseas. From building an export plan to gaining market intelligence, here are nine great places to start.
Plan like a pro
While there is something to be said for plotting world domination on the back of an envelope, the most successful business owners never stop planning ahead. One aspect of this could be a business’s ambition for selling goods internationally. The export plan builder, from the Department for Business and Trade (previously the Department for International Trade), is an online tool that helps you build a bespoke business plan to do just that. It incorporates detailed market data and guidance that’s relevant to exporting your product. And you can’t find that on the back of an envelope.
Home in on potential export markets
Different markets around the world have very different mechanics, cultural norms and particularities, so it’s important to tailor your export plan to suit the markets you’re looking at. Want to try to get your fashion designs into stores in Japan, or to see if your pale ales can cut it in the Australian beer market? Comprehensive market guides from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) can help you identify opportunities and prepare to export to new markets around the world.
Have questions on exporting? Just ask
No matter the size of your business, how much you export or where in the UK you’re based, DBT’s export support team can answer your questions about exporting. Topics cover everything from selling to new markets, paperwork needed to export goods, and rules for delivering services in a specific country.
Go back to school
Whether or not you went to business school, you can sharpen up your international business smarts by making full use of the UK Export Academy. This resource provides free training that gives UK businesses the know-how to sell to overseas customers. Delivered by experts in international trade, it offers a range of webinars, masterclasses and events. Another option is training with the Institute of Export & International Trade: the UK’s largest provider of export training, it offers thousands of courses, including master’s degrees. There is a membership fee to join, and the cost of each qualification varies.
Attend the right events
From networking sessions to trade shows, attending the right events can help you make vital contacts and give you ideas for ways to grow your exports. DBT hosts and takes part in a variety of events, including webinars, workshops, in-person events and international trade missions. Check out DBT’s events calendar to see which events could be right for you.
Join a business organisation
From advisory hubs dedicated to boosting your exporting knowledge, to webinars and Q&A sessions on the practicalities of international trade, and customs and trade expertise, a business organisation can be a mine of information for members. Joining a group such as the Federation of Small Businesses, the Confederation of British Industry or the British Chambers of Commerce could help you to sell to new markets and grow your business.
Unlock the power of financing
Access to financing can be the difference that helps you to win contracts, fulfil orders and get paid. Did you know that you can get finance and insurance from the UK Government? UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK’s export credit agency, can assist with insurance against buyer default, which helps you to get paid. It works closely with banks to help businesses access the working capital they need to take on and fulfil bigger orders. UKEF also aims to provide attractive financing terms to buyers, which could help boost your business’s prospects.
Get one-to-one support from the experts overseas
If you have an export-ready product or service, and are eligible for DBT’s international-market support service, you could take advantage of one-to-one help from in-market advisers, market intelligence, and introductions to private sector service providers.
Benefit from a growing number of trade deals
DBT has secured trade agreements with more than 70 countries (plus the EU), and new agreements are being negotiated. Each agreement is designed to make it easier for UK businesses to buy or sell goods or services internationally. Learn more about trade deals, and how to use them to grow your business, here.
Wherever you are on your exporting journey, the Department for Business and Trade can help. Access a wide range of free support and find out how your business can sell to the world at great.gov.uk
