The Department for International Trade (DIT) has announced its latest set of ‘Export Champions’ – successful exporters who are dedicated to helping more British businesses start selling internationally.

The department tweeted that the 54 new champions would “help small businesses seize opportunities in new markets around the world”.

Get exporting

With just one in ten British firms currently selling overseas, international trade secretary Liz Truss is keen to encourage more to export.

Truss told the Daily Mail that the new legion of champions would “get more businesses selling top-quality goods and services around the world and will help discover the next British export success story”.

They join more than 400 other existing champions and range from tailors to the Queen to a cyber-security firm.

Lead by example

Export Champions are businesses from around the UK who are already successfully selling overseas.

They form a nationwide network of British companies which act as ambassadors for exporting by sharing their success stories, offering practical advice and leading by example.

They advise potential exporters by appearing at webinars, roundtables, and events.

DIT support

As recently reported in the IOE&IT Daily Update, Export Champions are just one part of the DIT’s ongoing support for businesses.

DIT is also assisting firms through:

Internationalisation Fund for SMEs attending trade fairs

Virtual trade missions

Dedicated network of internationals trade advisors (ITAs)

In the dark

DIT has said that the UK has “generous and comprehensive” packages of support to help exporters take advantage of the trade deals it negotiates.

However, according to a report in the Independent, more than two-thirds of the public feel “left in the dark” about the impact that post-Brexit trade deals will have.

The survey of more than 3,000 UK adults found that the public feels as though it receives too little information about trade deals, with only 7% saying that they knew that the UK had a deal in place with Japan.