Welsh businesses urged to take share of £1m export funding boost

The Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT) has announced that it has made over £1 million in funding available to help British businesses to export.

The IOE&IT launched the International Trade Accelerator Voucher scheme which can help Welsh businesses large and small through access to their world class training, consultancy, and educational services. Each voucher issued is worth £1100 and can be redeemed against the wide range of services that the IOE&IT offers.

Marco Forgione, director general of the IOE&IT hailed the new voucher scheme as a “landmark moment” for businesses who look to trade internationally.

The International Trade Accelerator Voucher scheme is available to all UK based businesses regardless of their membership of the IOE&IT. The purpose of the scheme is to accelerate understanding, efficiency, and risk reduction in international trade.

Forgione said: “We have committed over £1 million to the International Trade Accelerator Voucher scheme to equip businesses with the expertise and skills they need to trade internationally. We believe in a vision of a global Britain that exports to the world and we back the Government’s ambitious plans to reach £1 trillion worth of exports by 2030. We want businesses to be able to take advantage of all the trade deals the UK is negotiating around the world.”

“However, we have seen a decline in the number of companies exporting in the past 12 months as highlighted by the latest edition of our UK Export Monitor, that’s why the launch of this scheme is so important right now.”

He continued: “The IOE&IT is a charitable organisation established over 85 years ago and our objective remains the same to this day, to support UK businesses in growing their trade in international markets. We believe the International Trade Accelerator Voucher scheme will be the catalyst to kickstart this growth. We have the knowledge and expertise at the IOE&IT to ensure British businesses are equipped with the skills to trade confidently and compliantly with the rest of the world.”

Applications for a voucher can be completed online at the IOE&IT website here. Upon acceptance applicants will have their voucher details emailed to them within 24 hours. The voucher can be used immediately and will be valid for 365 days to be used against any of the world class training, consultancy or education services that the IOE&IT offer.