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Introduction
According to the January 2025 Business Insights and Conditions Survey published by the Office for National Statistics, around 1 in 5 (21%) of UK businesses with 10 or more employees reported that they had exported goods or services in the last 12 months. 18% of these exporting businesses reported they exported more in December 2024, compared with 12 months ago, whilst 24% saw their export numbers decrease year on year. In terms of costs, 29% of exporting businesses reported that their costs of exporting in December 2024 had increased since December 2023.
SMEs are able to access a range of export support in order to find out how to start expanding into overseas markets and are also able to access financial support to help deal with the costs of doing so, including to cover activities such as overseas market visits, exhibiting at trade shows and creating international marketing materials. Businesses are able to access funding and support from a range of providers, including the Government, local councils, chambers of commerce, enterprise support agencies and sector specific specialists.
What Are Some Of the Latest UK Overseas Market Development Grants Available?
i) Small Business Assistance Special Grant Award
East Renfrewshire Council is providing businesses that have been trading for over 12 months a grant with funding towards costs such as new equipment, IT hardware purchases, tooling costs, property extensions or improvements and exhibiting at home or overseas and other overseas trade promotion activities. Funding up to £50,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
ii) Export Training Grant
The Welsh Government is providing funding to help businesses improve their capability to export through training with key topic areas including export finance, sales and marketing, customs processes and procedures, export processes and market awareness. Funding up to £25,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
iii) Department for International Trade’s Internationalisation Fund
Sheffield Chamber of Commerce is providing funding to support local businesses looking to trade internationally. Eligible costs include market research, IP (intellectual property) advice and translation services. Funding up to £9,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
iv) International Showcase Fund
PRS Foundation is providing grants for UK based artists, bands, songwriters and producers who have been invited to play an international showcasing festival or conference. Grants can be used for travel, visas, accommodation and daily expenses. Funding up to £5,500 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
v) Business Growth Fund
North Lanarkshire Council is providing funding to businesses to support projects which will support the strategic, long-term sustainability and growth of their business. This strand can be used to support attendance at an industry exhibition or trade show within the UK or overseas either as an Exhibitor or Visitor. Funding up to £50,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
vi) Go Succeed Grant Funding
The Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities is providing grants to Northern Ireland businesses that are currently accessing support via the Go Succeed service and have identified a barrier to growth. Eligible expenditure can include, but is not limited to, new equipment and machinery, web development, marketing and attendance at trade shows, exhibitions and overseas market visits. Funding up to £4,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
vii) Business Growth Grant
East Ayrshire Council has a scheme that aims to help local businesses to implement their growth plans. Eligible projects include digital marketing, IT, staff training, industry accreditations and attendance at UK and international trade exhibitions. Funding up to £3,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
viii) Beyond Scotland Market Development Grant
Perth and Kinross Council is providing a scheme that aims to support projects which will enable businesses to expand their market overseas and into other parts of the UK. This can include exhibition and trade show attendance and exhibition stand costs. Funding up to £3,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
How To Apply For Overseas Market Development Schemes
Full details about how to apply for schemes and the eligibility criteria is available on each individual scheme page on the relevant website. Any deadlines, who can apply and what eligible costs the grants will cover will also be outlined on these pages. Interested businesses can speak to overseas development advisors based at each provider who can guide them through requirements and eligibility criteria to see if the relevant funding is a match with their needs and help them to apply. There are also application forms and other supporting guidance available on scheme pages as well.
Want To Find The Latest Overseas Market Development Funding Opportunities?
If you want to see the full set of UK overseas market development funding currently available, please visit https://getbusinessgrants.com/
