International Trade Week launched to support new exporters

The Department for International Trade (DIT) has announced its first International Trade Week next month to help support new exporters.

It will include business and sector led activities, showcasing events and workshops available to businesses of all sizes, all sectors and across the UK hosted by expert trade advisors, Parliamentarians and Ministers.

Businesses across the country who are considering exporting for the first time are being encouraged to join the ambitious, new week-long event to get the advice they need to take the plunge.

The event will take place from 15 to 19 November across the UK, aiming to encourage UK businesses to export and sell to the world, and showcase the long-term support that is available to help them do so.

Two events are being hosted by the DIT West Midlands team. They are:

• Export Academy: Trading with Europe - Wednesday 17 November (2pm to 4pm) - view promo here
• Spotlight on Sustainable Global Growth with LUSH -Friday 19 November (10am to 12pm) - view promo here

Figures show that businesses who export are more productive and pay their staff more. But only one in 10 British businesses currently export, with DIT Ministers keen to boost this figure through a broad package of tailored support.

Shevaun Haviland (pictured), director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: “When the BCC was set up in the 19th Century its aim was to help businesses grow by trading internationally, and that hasn 't changed.

“More than 60 per cent of Chamber members export overseas compared to just 10% of all businesses UK-wide.

“We agree wholeheartedly with the government that to turn the UK into the global economic powerhouse it deserves to be, then we need to get our businesses exporting.

“Taking that first step may seem daunting but the BCC, and its network of Accredited Chambers of Commerce in the UK and British International Chambers across the world, are here to help you.

“Once you open the door to international trade the possibilities for expansion are endless. ”

DIT is committed to helping UK businesses seize international trade opportunities.

Exports are central to the government 's ambition to level up every part of the UK and help businesses build back better; government commissioned research estimated that exports supported 6.5 million jobs across the UK in 2016, 74 per cent of which were outside London.

International Trade Week will launch on 15 November, and businesses can sign up here for virtual/physical events in their local area.