Skip to main content

New to exporting

Discover the tools and knowledge you need to start trading internationally.

A woman and man walking and talking in an industrial office building

Getting started for new exporters

If you’re looking to start exporting, there’s a wide range of support available to help you take the first step.

 

Gather information

The Department for Business and Trade has a wealth of information and resources, including guides to exporting that can help you to identify new markets, find export opportunities, and understand duties, taxes and customs. If you have specific questions about exporting, you can ask the Export Support Team a question.

Review the export guide

GOV.UK’s step by step guide on how to export your goods from the UK tells you the rules you’ll need to follow, licenses you’ll need to secure and what declarations you and your international buyer will need to make.

Secure finance

Once you’ve got an export plan in place, the first step to securing the finance you need is to speak to your bank’s trade finance manager. They can review your export plans and advise on the trade finance facilities available to you, including UK Export Finance support.

 

 

What is export finance?

Export finance is the range of finance products and services that help businesses export overseas. These can include loans, insurance policies and bank guarantees that enable international trade to take place as easily and securely as possible.

UK Export Finance provides a government guarantee to lenders to help businesses access these facilities, boosting cashflow through our working capital schemes or managing the risk of not getting paid via insurance policies.

 

Get support to grow your business

The British Business Bank is the UK’s economic development bank, and can help you understand the finance options available to you and your business at every stage of your development – from start-up loans to debt finance. Visit their Finance Hub for guides, checklists and articles that can help your business understand the financial landscape.

 

Ready when you are

When you’ve got an export plan in place and are looking to secure the financing to help you export with confidence, get in touch with us to see how we can help your business meet its international ambitions.

 

Find out more
Department for Business and Trade

Get started exporting with the Department for Business and Trade.

Find out more
UK Export Academy

Enrol in the UK Export Academy to learn how to sell your products to the world.

Find out more
British Business Bank A man and woman seated across from each other having a meeting

Find out how the British Business Bank can help you understand the finance options available to your business.