Jamila Saidi
Head of Digital Commerce, Retail & Luxury
Department for Business and Trade
Selling products and services online enables businesses to easily reach a global audience, removing traditional barriers and levelling the playing field for smaller firms.
The UK is one of the world leaders in ecommerce, being the third most-shopped market for international online purchases, behind only China and the US.1 Clearly, there is a huge demand for British products and services around the world, especially when it comes to buying via the internet. However, understanding how to take advantage of this can be challenging.
Support for British ecommerce businesses
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the UK Government’s department for economic growth. It is there to advise and support British companies, helping them to export and grow.
This includes support specific to ecommerce companies. Ecommerce advisers, based around the UK, have a wealth of experience and can offer tailored support, including assistance to create an ecommerce export strategy and recommend the most appropriate online marketplaces. There is a range of help available for every aspect of selling internationally — and it’s all free. On DBT’s website, UK firms can:
- Create a tailored export plan
- Work through learning modules to build knowledge of how to sell internationally
- Identify high-potential markets for their products and services
- Search and apply for live export opportunities
- Explore and enquire about finance and insurance support from UK Export Finance
Expanding international ecommerce sales
The UK Export Academy is a training programme for British businesses looking to grow their international sales. The programme is delivered in three stages, depending on skill level.
- Essentials: This is a step-by-step guide to becoming an exporter. These foundation modules will build knowledge and confidence for those relatively new to selling internationally or interested in learning how to start.
- Masterclasses: Once businesses have a good understanding of the basics, these will broaden knowledge in areas such as sales skills and website internationalisation. They will also learn about sector-specific challenges and gain insight into overseas markets.
- Sector and market: Discover how to use DBT’s sector teams and overseas networks to access in-market opportunities, including the benefits of new free trade agreements.
Participants can choose which webinars, masterclasses and events to take part in, making sure it’s the best use of their time and fits around their business needs.
Access to a range of business support
Information on other events that DBT delivers or is involved in — including webinars, trade shows and workshops — is on its events calendar. For any questions that UK companies have about selling internationally, the Department’s Export Support Team can help. The team provides guidance on topics, such as selling to new markets, paperwork needed to export goods and rules for delivering services in, or to, a specific country.
Businesses that have an export-ready product or service may be eligible for the Department’s international market support. The service provides one-to-one help from in-market advisers, market intelligence and introductions to private-sector service providers.
For free help selling to the world, visit great.gov.uk
[1] Global Voices 2021: Cross-Border Shopper Insights survey
