A new Government scheme to help UK businesses export to the EU following Brexit has been welcomed by business leaders.
The Export Support Service is a one-stop-shop dedicated hotline and online service launched this month for UK exporters. It will help more British businesses export to Europe, according to new International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan.
British businesses will be able to access one-to-one advice via a new phone and online service from the Department for International Trade (DIT), who said the UK exported £288 billion worth of goods to the rest of Europe last year.
Medicinal and pharmaceutical products and cars were among the top five exports.
The comprehensive service is designed to help exporters deal with a range of complex information in a simple and speedy manner.
SMEs are likely to benefit the most as they come to terms with the new UK/EU trading environment without being able to find the information they need.
It will provide a single point of contact and be able to deal with queries around rules of origin, to guidance on recognising professional qualifications and entering new markets.
Listening to the needs of business
Ms Trevelyan added: “Having a dedicated export support team at the end of a phone ready to help will ensure they can access the information they need, and get on with the job of selling their world-class products and services abroad.”
Confederation of British Industry’s International Director Andy Burwell said: “A free to use service to help businesses navigate trading with the UK’s biggest market will be hugely beneficial, particularly to SMEs.
“Our data shows supporting a new generation of SME exporters could boost UK export revenues by an additional £20bn by 2030.”
Federation of Small Businesses National Chair Mike Cherry added: “In our recent export report we called for a single query point to help small businesses looking to either expand or begin their exporting journeys.
“So, we are pleased that the Government is now creating just that. Done right, this will be a major boost for small firms raising their sights to new growth markets around the globe.”
Support is essential to aid recovery
The Food and Drink Federation’s Head of International Trade, Dominic Goudie also welcomed the initiative and said: “This new support from the Department for International Trade is most welcome and will help businesses that are facing challenges when moving goods into Europe.
“Businesses have been badly hit, as highlighted in the FDF’s Export Snapshot published in September, so it is essential to have this support in place to aid business recovery and a return to export growth for our industry.”
The launch comes ahead of the upcoming launch of the Government’s Export Strategy which it says aims to drive economic recovery and level up the country.
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