Where do exporters from United Kingdom get public support?

4 programmes and institutions: Department for Business and Trade – export support (business.gov.uk), UK Export Finance (UKEF), Business Academy (formerly UK Export Academy), Get help with your export query (DBT export support team). Each entry links to the official page with the current conditions.

Can I use another country's programmes?

Normally not: export support follows the country where the company is registered. EU-wide instruments (Enterprise Europe Network, Access2Markets, the EU SME Fund) serve companies in every member state.

Export support for companies from United Kingdom

Public bodies and programmes that help a company registered in United Kingdom sell abroad, by kind of support. Each entry was checked on the official website on the date shown.

Trade promotion agencyFree
Department for Business and Trade – export support (business.gov.uk)
Department for Business and Trade export support
Online export support: market guides, tailored help by product and market, a Where to Export comparison tool, an online export plan builder, and an enquiry route to the department's export support team, which aims to reply within three working days.
Who:
UK businesses selling, or planning to sell, goods or services abroad.
Run by:
Department for Business and Trade (UK government)
Markets:
worldwide
Note:
great.gov.uk now redirects (301) to business.gov.uk. The enquiry form is at gov.uk/ask-export-support-team; separate forms cover trade with Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, trade with Israel and Palestine, and Red Sea disruption. The page does not state a cost for the enquiry service; Business Academy events are stated as free.
Checked on the official site 2026-11-08.
Export credit and insurancePaid
UK Export Finance (UKEF)
UK Export Finance
Export finance, guarantees and insurance where private-sector cover is not available, including export insurance against buyer insolvency, early contract termination and political events; exporters can contact an Export Finance Manager.
Who:
Exporters with an established UK business base; for export insurance at least 20% of the export value must be UK goods or services and private cover must be unavailable.
Run by:
UK government export credit agency
Markets:
Buyer countries UKEF covers; short-term insurance (risk horizon under 24 months) is not available for buyers in EU member states, the USA, Switzerland, Norway and other 'marketable risk' countries
Note:
The export insurance page (last updated 27 January 2026) states UKEF can insure up to 95% of potential losses, with no minimum or maximum amount, and that it is free to apply. UKEF is prohibited from supporting export insurance with a risk horizon of less than 24 months for buyers in all EU member states, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the USA (private cover is expected there). UKEF organisation page: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-export-finance.
Checked on the official site 2026-11-08.
Advice and helpdesksFree
Business Academy (formerly UK Export Academy)
Business Academy
Free live online events and on-demand videos with experts, on digital skills, running and growing a business, and selling overseas.
Who:
UK businesses at any stage; sign-up required.
Run by:
Department for Business and Trade
Markets:
worldwide
Note:
great.gov.uk/export-academy/ redirects (301) to business.gov.uk/export-academy/, which redirects to this Business Academy page; the page does not use the name 'Export Academy', so the renaming is inferred from the redirects. The page states it is free to join.
Checked on the official site 2026-11-08.
Advice and helpdesksFree
Get help with your export query (DBT export support team)
DBT export support team enquiry form
Online route to put an export question to the Department for Business and Trade's export support team when the answer is not on business.gov.uk (topics such as new markets, paperwork for selling goods abroad, rules for selling services in a market).
Who:
UK businesses that sell or want to sell goods or services outside the UK.
Run by:
Department for Business and Trade
Markets:
worldwide
Note:
The GOV.UK page is titled 'Get help with your export query'; it lists no phone number or response time (business.gov.uk states replies aim to be within 3 working days). Overlaps with the DBT export support entry; kept as the direct route to the team.
Checked on the official site 2026-11-08.

Questions

Where do exporters from United Kingdom get public support?: 4 programmes and institutions: Department for Business and Trade – export support (business.gov.uk), UK Export Finance (UKEF), Business Academy (formerly UK Export Academy), Get help with your export query (DBT export support team). Each entry links to the official page with the current conditions.
Can I use another country's programmes?: Normally not: export support follows the country where the company is registered. EU-wide instruments (Enterprise Europe Network, Access2Markets, the EU SME Fund) serve companies in every member state.

All countries and filters · Selling into United Kingdom

Cresques is not affiliated with these bodies. Sources: the official website of each institution, read on the date shown; conditions and calls change — check the official page before applying.