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UK Trade and Investment

Unrivalled services to help your business go further faster…..

Trading overseas is easier than you think with help from UK Trade & Investment, the government organisation that provides advice, information and support to UK companies looking to trade internationally.

How we can help your business?

Whether you are new to exporting or not, our network of professional International Trade Advisers can help you to generate business overseas.

We help by developing your international trade potential

UKTI’s services assist companies with tailored training, planning and support to help them prepare to succeed overseas. Getting started in international trade can be tough – there’s a lot to learn and often a lot at stake. That’s why it helps to have top-quality, cost-effective advice and support.

UKTI can provide:

• an export health check to assess your company’s trade development needs and help develop a plan of action,
• training in the requirements for trading overseas,
• access to an experienced local International Trade Adviser,
• specialist help with tackling cultural and language issues when communicating with overseas customers and partners,
• advice on how to go about market research and the possibility of a grant towards approved market research projects,
• ongoing support to help your business continue to develop overseas trade and look at dealing with more sophisticated activities or markets, and
• advice on a range of international trade help available from UKTI and others.

Help to access international markets

Once the initial homework has been done, UKTI assists new and experienced exporters with information, help and advice on entering overseas markets. To be a successful exporter you need to travel to your target markets and build lasting commercial relationships with your clients and partners. This is not always easy, but UKTI can help you with practical assistance before you go and ongoing help while you’re there.

Services include:

• information, contacts, advice, mentoring and support from UKTI staff at home and overseas in our network of embassies, consulates and other offices in over 100 locations,
• support to participate in trade fairs overseas,
• opportunities to participate in sector-based trade missions and seminars,
• access to major buyers, governments and supply chains in overseas markets,
• advice on forming international joint ventures and partnerships,
• exploratory visits to new markets, and
• alerts to the latest and best business opportunities.

Some specific services:

• Passport to Export is their programme for new and inexperienced exporters. It offers a comprehensive range of advice, support and training. In short, it’s everything you need to prepare for trading overseas.
• Gateway to Global Growth is the flexible programme for more experienced exporters (between 2 & 10 years) which offers advice, training and third party assistance aimed at developing a successful international strategy.
• Export Communications Review provides tailored advice, to meet the needs of your company. It will help you to discover the specific linguistic and cultural aspects that you should consider when doing business overseas and via the internet.
• Overseas Market Introduction Service provides you with the in-country expertise to help you with developing overseas markets. It is a flexible service to help you maximise the opportunities and minimise the risks in selling overseas. The service is designed around you, the customer.
• Export Marketing Research Scheme. Financial support and advice is available to help you research potential new markets overseas. Assistance can be provided to subsidise the cost of export marketing research: in-house, using a market research agency, or to buy a published report.
• Trade show Access Programme. Trade shows offer a great way to meet new customers, launch new products and assess the competition. UKTI can help you make the most of exhibiting, and provide financial support along the way.
• Business Opportunities are daily sales leads direct to your inbox! UK Trade & Investment, with its team of expert advisers located across the globe, delivery timely FREE Business Opportunities, across all sectors and in over 100 markets.

Is there other support available from UKTI?

UKTI offers a wide range of support. To find out what assistance is available to you call the International Trade Centre for advice. With 1,300 staff across all key global markets, no other organisation is better equipped to help companies do business internationally.