The Institute of Export is a Registered Charity, Number 266395, incorporated in 1935 by Licence of the Board of Trade, and enjoying the Royal Patronage of HRH The Duke of Kent.  The Institute’s mission is to enhance the export performance of the United Kingdom by setting and raising professional standards in international trade management and export practice.  This is achieved principally by the provision of education and training programmes.

Primarily comprised of individual members The Institute also has an increasing Business & Corporate Membership and a growing list of services and benefits designed to meet the various needs of all membership categories.

Dedicated to professionalism and recognising the challenging and often complex trading conditions in international markets, The Institute is committed to the belief that real competitive advantage lies in competence and that commercial power, especially negotiating power, is underpinned by a sound basis of knowledge.

The Institute of Export is proud to say that it is one of a small number of professional organisations in the UK to have successfully met, and continue to meet, the stringent requirements for approval as an Awarding Body by the UK Qualification & Curriculum Authority (QCA).

QCA is a public body, sponsored by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). It is governed by a board, whose members are appointed by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and has a pivotal role in helping the UK become the most dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world. It accredits and monitors qualifications in colleges and at work and is driven by a remit to ensure that awarding bodies deliver qualifications in accordance with statutory regulatory criteria to ensure continually high quality qualifications for learners.

Membership of the Institute of Export

The Short Course Training Programme

Designed to run in parallel with the professional qualifications, The Institute’s Short Course Training Programme provides essential, up to date knowledge and skills development opportunities to those engaged at all levels and in all areas of international trade.  The programme addresses every aspect of international trade management; sales and marketing, logistics and documentary requirements and the all important dimension of international trade finance.  From introductory courses on exporting and importing procedures through to advanced modules for Export Sales Managers and International Directors, the programme is certain to have something to benefit everyone.

This year the programme introduces several new courses including Intellectual Property and Conflict of Laws and International Sale of Goods Contracts.  Any changes or additions will be advised  in the International Trade Training Section of this website. 

The Institute is also able to deliver any course from the training programme on your own premises.  If you have between 6 and 12 staff members who would benefit from any courses described you will find this a very cost-effective option.

In addition, The Institute regularly designs courses on a bespoke basis to exact company or Trade Association requirements.  Whatever your international training needs, the Institute will be pleased to help.

Export Training Standards 

Consistent with the mission of setting and raising professional standards, The Institute requires all its trainers to successfully complete a rigorous assessment by professional assessors.  This process for trainer approval is based on the extensive criteria developed under the Joint Export Training Standards (JETS) initiative between The Institute and the British Chamber of Commerce.

In addition all trainers must participate in and successfully complete The Institutes annual requirements for Continuing Professional Development.