9 export support schemes available in the Northern Powerhouse

The GREAT website has been organised based on your export situation and the needs of your business and provides advice and guidance based on this.

Services available include creating a free business profile to help you to connect with international buyers, find online marketplaces, finding export opportunities, events, and webinars, etc.

Information is also available to help you research your market, routes to market, communication with international partners, and selling overseas.

Eligibility: Available for businesses who have begun trading. Businesses that have not begun trading can use the website for information only.

The UK Export Academy is for pre-start up and trading small and medium sized businesses who know that they want to work with international customers and contracts in the future, as well as those who might already be selling outside the UK and want to expand into new markets.

It is open to anyone in the UK who has a product or service that can be sold internationally. 

UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK’s export credit agency. It is like a government bank or insurer specifically for exports.

Its ambition is to make sure no viable export from the UK should fail for want of finance or insurance from the private sector.

UKEF helps firms of all sizes access the finance and insurance needed to realise their export ambitions through:

• free and independent guidance on sources of export finance
• the release of working capital with bank guarantees for contract bonds or credit facilities
• security of payment with export credit insurance
• competitive finance for overseas buyers with buyer credit guarantees or direct loans

The amounts and terms of support available depend on the risk involved. UKEF works with exporters, project sponsors, banks and buyers. 

Backed by government and business, Open to Export is a not-for-profit social enterprise dedicated to helping UK companies grow through export.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

The British Chambers of Commerce is the national body for a network of Accredited Chambers of Commerce across the UK.

The network serves not only its member businesses but the wider business community in three key areas of chamber activity:

International trade support and online resources through their dedicated BCC Trade Hub, including:

• Export advice and training, customs brokerage, export readiness, access to overseas markets and help with completing export/import paperwork
• Skills development, for example, training, networking, and workshops
• Business services, for example, start-up support and legal advice

Services and additional charges are dependent on individual chambers.

Find your local Chamber of Commerce. 

The Export Control Joint Unit are responsible for the control of the exporting of 'strategic' goods which require a licence (dual-use goods that can be used for both civil and military purposes and radioactive sources).

It aims to help UK businesses export responsibly and within the law. Their licensing process asks what is being exported, to where and for whom.

GOV.UK provides information about the UK Strategic Export Control Lists and guidance on whether or not an export licence is required.

The Export Support Service is a free, online service where all UK businesses can get answers to practical questions about exporting to Europe.

The service is a ‘one-stop shop’ and brings together UK government information, making it easier for exporters to access advice and support.

You might have questions about:

• exporting to new markets
• paperwork you need to sell your goods abroad
• rules for a specific country where you want to sell services (including rules of origin)

The service can answer questions from businesses that haven't started trading.

You can also access the Export Academy service, but the International Trade Advisor (ITA) support is only for trading businesses.

They also offer dedicated support to businesses trading with Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.

General Export Facility (GEF) provides partial guarantees to banks to help UK exporters to gain access to trade finance facilities. GEF can support the following facility types, with maximum repayment terms of up to 5 years:

• cash facilities such as trade loans
• contingent obligation facilities such as bonding and letter of credit line

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/general-export-facility

Greater Manchester Export Fund offers loans between £25,000 and £250,000 for up to 5 years, designed to enable businesses to pursue and fulfil export orders. The loans could be used for short-term working capital or as cash support to enable your bank to issue bonds or payment guarantees.

Projects being funded will increase international trade activity and result in jobs being created and/or safeguarded. A personal guarantee is required. Interest rates and arrangement fees apply.

Eligibility: Available for businesses trading over 24 months. Manufacturing is the main sector although other sectors may be considered.