A report from the Social Market Foundation in 2022, commissioned by Amazon, found that 70,000 SMEs that could trade internationally online are not yet doing so. The study claims that activating these businesses to export using e-commerce platforms could boost by the UK economy by £9.3bn.
But is there also a social value to empowering SMEs through trade and e-commerce? And what are the societal risks in the increasing use of online marketplaces and platforms by businesses?
As part of a new campaign to raise awareness of e-commerce among SMEs, led by the E-Commerce Trade Commission, the Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT) is hosting a free webinar looking at these questions, as well as how consumers can be protected online.
The webinar will cover:
- How e-commerce can contribute social value
- The societal risks that an increasingly digital business environment creates
- The importance of standards in protecting consumers
- What SMEs can do to grow their online trade responsibly
How industry and government are working together to foster a safe e-commerce environment
The webinar will largely consist of a chaired panel discussion, but you can ask questions in advance when completing the registration form below.
The E-Commerce Trade Commission was convened by IOE&IT to advise the Department for Business and Trade on how to effectively encourage more SMEs to trade overseas using e-commerce. The Commission includes some of the world’s largest e-commerce platforms – including Amazon, eBay and Google – and several leading UK business associations.