Three ways UKTI can help designers discover new markets overseas

UKTI is currently hosting its 6th Export Week, comprising of seminars, workshops and briefings and running until 22 May. Since October last year, it has been working with Design Council to help UK design businesses take their work global.

Earlier this year, our CEO John Mathers wrote about how the UK has the largest design sector in Europe, contributing a staggering £8.8 million per hour and generating thousands of jobs in the process. 

As part of our ongoing work with the Creative Industries Council to increase the impact of the UK’s creative industry, Design Council partnered with UKTI last year to help make the Creative Industries Strategy a reality and increase the sector’s ability in taking its expertise overseas.

UKTI helps UK exporters achieve commercial success by providing tailored services with specialist support. As well as training, advice and ongoing support, the government body also helps out UK companies in more tangible ways - designers can access information on foreign trade shows, timely business updates on their specific sector and even funding.

UKTI can help to put you in contact with the people - and places - that will most benefit your circumstances, making business abroad as easy as possible.

Similar to our own business growth service, UKTI can help to put you in contact with the people - and places - that will most benefit your circumstances, making business abroad as easy as possible.

Whether your design agency is highly experienced or just starting on the road to exporting its services, UKTI’s expertise can help you to trade internationally more efficiently and effectively. 

Here are three ways UKTI can help you take your design work global:

Trade missions

Like the trade mission to Mexico that we highlighted last year, the UKTI enables UK-based companies to visit the market they’re most interested in and talk face-to-face with prospective business partners. This can act as a fantastic opportunity to network with decision-makers, show off your design products and gain first-hand knowledge of potential new markets. You can read about upcoming trade missions here.

Business leads

Another great service you can benefit from, for free, is personalised email alerts informing businesses about relevant opportunities, developments and even business leads in their chosen sector. Being able to choose what you want to hear about means that you will never miss out on an opportunity in your specialist area again, without having to sift through reams of information that isn’t relevant to you. 

Funding for tradeshows

Thirdly, the Tradeshow Access Programme provides grant support for eligible small and medium-sized businesses to attend specified overseas exhibitions. Your agency can benefit from the exposure and contacts of a major tradeshow at a fraction of the cost. 

UKTI has helped numerous creative UK businesses gain access to overseas markets. In recent years this has included award-winners such as Seymour-Powell getting new business in Japan, assisted established agencies such as WMP break China and helped catapult companies such as Stage One Creative Services to international recognition.