Department for International Trade (DIT)

Department for International Trade: The Offer

The Department for International Trade (DIT) helps businesses export and grow into global markets. They provide practical support to UK businesses at home and overseas and help overseas companies locate and grow in the UK. Through UK Export Finance we help to ensure no viable UK export should fail for lack of finance or insurance.

Online Support:

www.great.gov.uk

Regardless of your exporting experience you can access invaluable advice and support from great.gov.uk. It is the ideal starting point for UK businesses looking to export for the first time or increase their existing export capability and sales. It brings together the best information across government and commercial partners. On great.gov.uk you can:

• access the best online advice on exporting
• find live export opportunities for their products and services
• find an online marketplace best suited to their products
• promote their business to overseas buyers – create profiles on our Find A Buyer service
• search and register for events and webinars.

Face-to-face support:

International Trade Advisers and E-Commerce Advisers

You can access and receive impartial face-to-face advice from dedicated International Trade Advisers (ITAs) and E-Commerce Advisers (ECAs)

DIT’s ITAs and ECAs, who have a background in exporting and e-commerce, act as part client manager, part adviser, and part mentor.

Through a thorough diagnostic process, they can assess your readiness to export and help you identify the services and support you need to develop your export capability and to grow internationally.

You can offer a broad range of services, including tailored advice and support, training opportunities and structured programmes. There is also other government support, e.g. UK Export Finance, and independent third party service providers for more in-depth support across specialist areas. Most of DIT’s services are free of charge and the ITA can advise on eligibility criteria and terms and conditions. Services are available across the following areas:

• export strategy and planning
• sales and marketing, including: market knowledge, contacts in overseas markets, creating export plans, Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS), access to trade missions, overseas tradeshows, market visits
• e-exporting, optimising digital sales channels/websites.
• language and culture
• product and service development, including innovation, IP, certification/standards
• operations, including legal and regulatory issues, export controls, documentation, logistics and distribution

Face-to-face support: access to export finance

UK Export Finance Export Finance Managers

DIT UK Export Finance (UKEF) exists to ensure no viable UK export should fail for lack of finance or insurance. UKEF’s Export Finance Managers (EFMs) can help you check you are getting the right export finance support and, if not, explore how to bridge any gaps. You can offer:

• expertise, guarantees, insurance and loans to help you compete and grow internationally
• introductions to other sources of government or private sector finance if required.