Local support is helping businesses across the UK

Our nationwide presence is a vital part of our remit

It’s crucial for my team of Export Finance Managers to be in the midst of any area we’re working in. They develop local knowledge and build relationships with the businesses there, creating as many opportunities as they can and almost acting as a megaphone for the support available.

Given that the UK’s business landscape is a tapestry of specialist firms, our support goes to a huge variety of companies, from pram makers to crane suppliers.

The UK has many regional areas of expertise. We have aviation in the East Midlands, clean energy growth in Scotland and the northwest, creative industries in the south… Whatever it is, we have financial products that can help.

Getting the right finance to realise your exporting ambitions

My team of Export Finance Managers covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. All have expert knowledge of finance for export. We’re here to offer free, impartial advice tailored to your needs.

We can give a helping hand in several ways.

Buyer finance

We can provide attractive financing terms for overseas buyers of UK goods and services, helping exporters to make their offering more competitive.

Exporter Guarantees

We help firms access the support they need to fulfil a contract, giving them the confidence to take more orders.

Insurance

We support firms to manage risks in challenging markets, ensuring that they get paid even where the private market is not able to offer insurance.

Helping firms bridge the gap and get the finance they need

No matter what these companies do and no matter where they are, a common roadblock to exporting is the finance gap. We work in partnership with over 100 banks and financial institutions to help businesses looking to bridge the gap and get the finance they need for growth.

UKEF has traditionally helped companies secure export contracts by offering guarantees to the banks involved, so exporters can more easily access the working capital needed to fulfil overseas contracts.

A broad range of support

Our General Export Facility offers support beyond what’s needed for immediate export contracts, such as building a new factory in the UK or financing R&D. If it enables export, UKEF is there to help. It will, in the long run, boost the UK’s export market.

Supporting local jobs and the regional economy

Simworx, a West Midlands exporter of attractions for global theme parks, was the first SME to benefit from the GEF. Through its bank, HSBC, Simworx took up UKEF’s offer of additional working capital to help ease cashflow constraints caused by the pandemic. As a result, Simworx has been able to build a presence in the Middle East, Far East and northern Europe.

Read more about how our support helped overseas sales soar for Simworx

The success of local businesses can help to transform their surrounding area, bringing jobs and prosperity to parts of the country that need it most.

I come from Derby, where you find companies such as Rolls-Royce, which signed a five-year loan facility in 2020 that’s supported by a partial guarantee from UKEF. Each deal we do develops capacity for the local supply chain – supporting local jobs and the regional economy.

We want to support your growth

A great number of companies are currently being helped by UKEF on their export journey, but I’m keen to find the next cohort. We have so many innovative companies in this country and we want to support their growth. Our key message is: UKEF can assist with getting the right finance to realise your exporting ambitions.

Find out more about our free guidance for export success