Building the Next Generation of Export Support Services

Export Growth Partners is a new venture formed by four leading UK business support organisations. The pioneering collaboration consists of Business West, One Midlands, the Growth Company and digital innovators Enterprise Nation.

Between them, since 2015 these organisations have supported over 56,000 businesses to export, creating more than 14,000 jobs for the UK economy. Last year alone, they assisted UK businesses in achieving additional export sales of £2.26bn. Export Growth Partners provides support across all stages of the export journey - from market research, overseas market visits, finding buyers to fulfilling export documentation - right up to ensuring payment is received.

The four founding organisations are a mixture of award-winning global trade specialists providing export services on behalf of government, and private sector firms offering expert advice to businesses. Each contributes an unrivalled knowledge of the UK and global economy and extensive reach across the regional business landscape.

By coming together Export Growth Partners will build on their market-leading strengths to transform how businesses trade internationally – redefining export support to meet the challenges and opportunities of Britain’s exit from the European Union.

Building on strong strategic partnerships with Department for International Trade (DIT), Department for Exiting the EU (DEXU) and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Export Growth Partners will support the realisation of the government’s Industrial Strategy and forthcoming Export Strategy.

Their vision is to create an integrated, nationally recognised route to world-beating export support. As a new venture they will assemble bespoke export support packages from ‘best in class’ public and private sector specialists.

Ahead of launching, the group has negotiated preferred partner arrangements with specialist banks, translation agencies and shipping agents, to provide a comprehensive end-to-end support package for businesses.

Speaking for Export Growth Partners, Phil Smith, managing director of Business West said:

“Capitalising on global opportunities is vital for UK firms and this new collaboration will give businesses a clear advantage to get access to global markets, while building strong sustainable links in a post-Brexit world.

“Many of our companies feel daunted by the complexity of exporting. Even those businesses that have seen the benefit of the extra sales that exporting brings, still struggle to know where to turn to for help, advice and hands on fulfilment – including how to get paid.

“Export Growth Partners is going to fundamentally change how we drive and assist UK companies to export – making it simpler than ever before to enter new markets with products and services. Combining our individual expertise, we will deliver an unrivalled range of international trade support from the public and private sector to companies up and down the country.

“Technology has changed everything and it has an important role to play in how we can make a difference to UK plc. Four of us pooling our resources together will be able to accelerate exports much faster than each one working alone.”

Coinciding with the launch of their new collaboration, Export Growth Partners have launched a new website, providing a single access point for businesses and partners wishing to find out more. Visit www.exportgrowth.co.uk