MemberCon25 takeaways: Proactive firms, policy feedback and manufacturing opportunities

Yesterday (13 March), representatives from business, government and universities met at MemberCon25 in Leeds.

Hosted by the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, the event gave both members and non-members the chance to hear from leading trade experts, work together in interactive workshops and build up their networks.

We spoke to some of the Chartered Institute’s staff on what their major takeaways were from the event.

William Barns-Graham, executive editor and MemberCon host

“Even during MemberCon, we saw evidence of the turbulent modern era for trade, with the decision of US president Donald Trump to hit European spirits with 200% tariffs. We heard from a lot of traders about the constantly changing nature of regulations and tariffs.

“At our sessions, experts spoke about the need for firms to be proactive, not reactive, during this new era to protect themselves. Taking advantage of free trade agreements, like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), was one of the major takeaways, particularly for diversifying supply chains and reducing risk.

“As always in trade, being detailed matters. By paying attention to the specifics of the agreements, businesses can avoid some of this turbulence and boost their exports.”

Grace Thompson, UK public affairs lead

“There was a real sense of energy across MemberCon yesterday. It was great to have businesses engaging in our interactive policy discussion with the Department for Business & Trade (DBT) on expanding trade horizons and talking about specific market concerns.

“We seek to give policy feedback to government from our members, and this was a great opportunity to create that direct feedback loop.

“The final session of the day also brought some interesting insights from the floor in terms of top trade tips businesses would give to others in the room. Training was far and away the most popular tip, and this is what the Chartered Institute is all about.”

Paul Brooks, National trade lead Wales and UK manufacturing lead

“2025 has started with many challenges and uncertainties for international trade. Despite these, the ambition to grow exports and international trade is alive and well all across the UK.

“The call from members and non-members alike was for the Chartered Institute to provide accurate information and to build knowledge to counter some of the challenges they face, as well as to help them navigate the uncertainties.

“We also heard that the UK still is a leading manufacturing nation. AI and developing technology underpin the opportunity to grow in important sectors like advanced manufacturing, digital and defence sectors.

“We also learned that support was different for businesses across the UK’s devolved nations and regions. SMEs need to look at their own area and understand the support packages that are available, since there is a lot more help than is sometimes thought.”

Ilona Kawka, senior digital trade and customs consultant

“The struggle to move to a digital system was something we heard about often at MemberCon, across many different sectors and businesses.

“In many cases, the trade experts discussed still having to do things manually instead of having a system to rely on to handle operations, thereby missing out on many benefits of technology and making their work smoother.

“My feedback to them was always to ensure that the technology is fit for purpose and interoperable. Digital systems should allow us to focus on the important tasks and make our work more effective. Some of the ongoing changes to the UK border are meant to make trade more digital, so firms are missing out if they aren’t getting up to speed with following up on digitalisation of their trade processes in the near future.”

Phil Adnett, senior editor

“At our practical workshops, we saw a lot of businesses talking about the issues with moving goods across the border.

“Despite the efforts of various governments to reduce border friction, businesses are still saying they’re facing issues at the border. The Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) still aren’t fully understood, and businesses are still unsure of how they impact their exports and imports.

“Keeping on top of developments is key, so resources like the Daily Update are vital for helping keep track of all the constant changes. Having a well-trained team who know how to deal with the myriad of issues that crop up is also critical.”