Doing Business in the UK

If you are interested in doing business in the UK, you should consider the following guidance:

Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT)

The Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) website is the UK government focal point for small businesses requiring support domestically and to trade.

International Trade Advisers

DBT has international trade advisers and trade specialists who can commission services from local experts overseas.

Events

DBT offers a number of events which SMEs can attend to help grow their business these include Trade Missions, expos, conferences, and webinars.

‘Find-a-Buyer’

Establish a ‘Find-a-Buyer’ trade profile. This service enables SMEs to promote their products and services to international buyers in one convenient location.

Global Entrepreneur Programme

The Global Entrepreneur Programme provides a range of support in establishing your business in the UK.

Export Academy

The UK Export Academy is a free training programme open to any business in the UK who has a product or service that can be sold internationally.

Unicorn Kingdom: Pathfinder Awards

Win a tailor-made programme connecting you to the UK’s world-leading tech ecosystem, including venture capital firms, in-market advisers, customers and forward-thinking support networks.

Freight Forwarders

A barrier SMEs often face in trade is the excessive cost and complicated coordination of transporting goods from one place to another. A common resource used to tackle this are freight forwarders.

Export Support Service

The Export Support Service provides SMEs with a single point of contact to ask questions and navigate a range of complex information simply and quickly.

The International Market service

The International Market service provides specialist overseas export support for SMEs across all 9 HM Trade Commissioner (HMTC) regions based in over 180 global markets.

Export Opportunities Service

The Export Opportunities Service allows for international buyers to advertise ongoing opportunities. SMEs can apply for these providing more opportunities to sell their product or service.

Digital Exporting Programme

How the Digital Exporting Programme helps UK companies export products using digital channels such as ecommerce.

Licence Finder

Licence Finder helps individuals and businesses wanting to provide a service in the UK find what authorisations they need (licences, permits, registrations etc).

Import, export and customs for businesses: detailed information

Guidance and forms about importing and exporting goods, customs declarations, duties and tariffs. Including carriers and freight forwarders, storing goods, Freeports and commodity codes.

International IP service

Protecting your trade marks, patents, designs and copyright abroad.

Help to Grow

Help to Grow provides you with what you need to know to start a business, grow your business or get exporting.

Mapping your supply chain

How organisations can map their supply chain dependencies, so that risks in the supply chain can be better understood and managed.

How to assess and gain confidence in your supply chain cyber security

Practical steps to help medium to large organisations gain assurance about the cyber security of their organisation's supply chain.

Support in Scotland

Whether you’re looking to set up a business in Scotland or you’re an overseas buyer, we can help you find the solutions, products and services you need.

Support in Wales

Support from the Welsh Government.

Support in Northern Ireland

Support from the Northern Irish Government.

UK Export Finance (UKEF)

UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK’s export credit agency which can offer export finance and insurance to UK SMEs to complement the private sector.

Innovate UK

Innovate UK provides funding to help businesses to develop new products, processes and services that will meet or define the markets of the future. It also offers innovation loans to support SMEs in the gap between grants and market finance and investment.

British Business Bank

The British Business Bank works with over 200 private sector partners to provide a range of debt, equity, and guarantee programmes. Comprehensive information on business finance options is provided through the Bank’s finance guide, which also includes resources for managing cost increases and cashflow difficulties.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) provides a range of support to help SMEs develop, research, and commercialise their ideas.

UKRI Knowledge Transfer Network

The UKRI Knowledge Transfer Network creates connections, dialogue, and partnerships between people with different expertise, specialisms, and backgrounds to help SMEs innovate and grow.

Catapult Network

Through the Catapult Network, SMEs can access cutting edge research and development equipment and facilities. This network has 9 leading technology and innovation centres spanning over 50 locations across the UK.

British Chambers of Commerce (BCC)

Confederation of British Industry (CBI)

Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)

Institute of Directors (IoD)

Institute of Export and International Trade (IOEIT)

techUK

Members of IT Ukraine are able to apply for a free two years of techUK membership.

techSpark (South West)

Manchester Digital (North West)

Sunderland Software City (North East)

Tech East (East of England)

Sheffield Digital (Yorkshire)

Tramshed Tech (Wales)

ScotlandIS (Scotland)

Tech WM (West Midlands)

C4DI (Yorkshire)

Catalyst (Northern Ireland)

EdenBase

Plexal

Freeports and Investment Zones

Relief from Stamp Duty Land Tax

Find out if you can claim relief from Stamp Duty Land Tax when buying land or buildings in a Freeport tax site in England.

Enhanced Structures and Buildings allowances

This measure will introduce an enhanced rate of Structures and Buildings Allowance (SBA), for businesses on qualifying expenditure for the construction of new, and renovation of existing, non-residential structures and buildings within Freeport tax sites.

Enhanced capital allowance relief

Find out if you can claim the enhanced capital allowance relief on qualifying expenditure for plant and machinery in a UK Freeport tax site.

National Insurance relief

Find out if you can claim relief from employer Class 1 National Insurance contributions when you employ someone in a UK Freeport tax site.

Business rates relief

Freeports business rates relief: local authority guidance