This time next week, E-Commerce Exports Week 2025 will have begun.
Starting on Monday 23 June, the programme of events is being run by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the E-Commerce Trade Commission.
The week-long campaign features in-person events and webinars which have been designed to help firms boost their online sales to thrive in international markets.
The E-Commerce Trade Commission is an industry-led body and was convened by the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade in June 2023. It advises DBT on measures the government could take to boost online UK exports.
Barriers to trade
As part of the campaign, the Chartered Institute and Alibaba Group - Tmall Global are hosting a free webinar addressing the barriers that have emerged for online trade, as well as recommendations for overcoming them.
The session covers the rise of non-tariff barriers for online trade, new challenges for online trade in the second Trump presidency, and what practical support is on offer to SMEs from government and the e-commerce industry.
There will also be a live Q&A session with leading experts in e-commerce. You can sign up here.
Policy paper
The E-Commerce Trade Commission’s final policy paper is being launched on 24 June at an in-person event.
Held at ICAEW’s Chartered Accountants’ Hall, the invite-only event will feature a discussion between small businesses and industry giants on the realities of selling online.
The report will include new insights for businesses navigating the tricky waters of e-commerce, and contains recommendations to government on how to keep firms’ trading online.
Choosing the right tech
On Wednesday (25 June), the UK Export Academy is hosting a webinar aimed at helping female business founders and entrepreneurs learn how to scale their business globally.
It is part of a series of webinars on expanding female participation in trade.
This session includes a focus on making tech decisions, how to develop a practical framework for looking at which e-commerce tools are actually working for your business, and how to use data to make long-term improvements.
You can sign up here.
‘Positive moment’ for businesses
Other events are also on offer, including how to use LinkedIn to generate more leads, the best way of managing your social media channels on a budget and how to adapt your website for a global audience.
Grace Thompson, the Chartered Institute’s UK public affairs lead, said the week was a “positive moment for businesses of all sectors”.
“There is untapped potential for more businesses to be engaging in e-commerce, and the whole mission of the E-Commerce Trade Commission over the past two years has been to identify where the blockers to engagement are, and to work with government and industry to break these down.
“We are excited to be able to launch a practical support tool for businesses next week, both for those new to e-commerce and those which are seeking new ways to grow their e-commerce exports. Watch this space!”
