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The FSB also reported that the Department’s International Trade Advisors can vary in quality, that...
Conclusion
The FSB also reported that the Department’s International Trade Advisors can vary in quality, that small businesses do not know about the Department’s ‘Report a trade barrier’ scheme and are not using it, and that very small firms do not have the opportunity to apply for a Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP) grant.36 Pact (which represents the independent television, film and digital media production sector including many small businesses) told us that, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many trade shows will take place virtually for the foreseeable future. However, TAP grants are not available for virtual trade shows and many businesses may not be able to attend without financial support.37 In written evidence, the Department informed us that it currently assesses the performance of TAP through its client survey but that it intends to develop ways of measuring the long- term effectiveness and impact of the programme.38 There is scope for the Department to learn from other countries, such as Denmark, about how it could better target support at individual companies.39 The department should look at how many businesses export once but not again, and the reasoning why.
Government Response
Not Addressed
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
4.1 The government agrees with this recommendation. Target implementation date: September 2021 4.2 The department will continue to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) export including through the recently launched £38 million Internationalisation Fund and through seeking to include SME chapters in all free trade agreements (FTAs). 4.3 With regard to the Committee’s points, subject to business planning, the department will: • explore the merits of accreditation as part of improvements to the International Trade Adviser service. DIT has recently launched a new small business Export Academy in the Northern Powerhouse, Midlands Engine and South West which will deliver a series of activities to build the exporting capabilities of smaller companies. • continue to build upon DIT’s digital offer for both businesses new to exporting and more experienced traders. The continued iteration of services will increase the quality of support the department provides at scale, providing relevant content, data, and digital services to users. The department has also released ‘Check how to export goods’ which provides UK goods exporters with product and country-specific information such as duties and customs procedures for most countries. • continue to promote the ‘report a trade barrier’ service amongst SMEs and wider industry so that businesses of all sizes are able to report barriers that are preventing them from trading. We intend to make information available shortly on gov.uk about existing and resolved barriers to trading and investing abroad. This will support UK businesses to check trade barriers which may affect them, and to see where barriers have been resolved to inform their understanding of new potential opportunities.
Source
Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Report
Twenty-First Report - Government support for UK exporters
28 Oct 2020
HC 679
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age
5.6 yrs
Report published
28 Oct 2020