Enhancing SMEs international trade performance

Eligible SMEs can access funding of up to £9k (on a 50:50 match-funded basis) to support projects or overseas travel helping their international trade. Applications for the Enhancing SMEs international trade performance are open until December 2022.

The fund can be used to support areas including (but not exclusively limited to):

• Market research
• IP (intellectual property) advice
• Translation services
• International social media/SEO
• Trade fairs (where no TAP funding is available)
• Independent market visits
• Consultancy and other international commercial services

Is your business eligible?

• The company must be based in England
• The company must be a small or medium sized enterprise (SME) with up to 250 employees
• No more than 25% of the business is owned by an enterprise which is not a SME
• Annual turnover does not exceed €50 million or annual balance sheet does not exceed €43 million
• Already exporting and want to go into new markets – or find a different way of trading in a country
• Launching a new product or service into an existing market
• New to exporting but are an established business (not a start-up) with growth potential

How can SMEs use the funding?

SMEs can get advice from experts on international trade, including with regards to:

• market research
• market selection and entry advice
• advice on Intellectual Property Rights
• cross cultural negotiation support and standards
• translation and cultural advice
• international trade legal advice
• PR support
• international social media and search engine optimisation
• international marketing
• routes to market/agency advice
• overseas business environment
• due diligence