Bob Dylan’s prescient lyrics from 60 years ago fit well with the changing order following the recent election. On the national level the fog of detail has yet to lift, but more of that later. The Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade1, founded in 1935, has recently been awarded its Royal Charter by King Charles III, the highest accolade that can be granted to a professional organisation. The Charter was awarded in recognition of the distinguished role of the body and its members in empowering international trade. This UK based, global organisation, is committed to professionalising international trading through training and education and has also become recognised as an expert voice by Governments and Industries across the world.

The aim of professionalising the business of exporting and equipping its members with the knowledge, expertise and tools needed to succeed across the world is admirable, and it also acts as a magnet to draw others into the profession from students to seasoned professionals, home and abroad. With opportunities to network with a wide variety of trade professionals, the learning and advice doesn’t have to take place in a classroom and the combined corporate knowledge base is extensive. If you are serious about exporting, whether as a full-time career, or as an add on to your core business, then you should investigate what it has to offer export.org.uk

You may have noticed another change that has taken place recently in the political world of musical chairs. I mean of course the advent of a new government.

This overnight abrupt change of government is a constitutional anomaly of the UK political system; no time for a detailed handover period like in the USA, the new Government and its Ministers have to be ready to govern, even when they have no previous experience. For this reason, the role of Civil Servants is critical in smoothing the way, however it is the new Ministers, most of whom have been studying the requirements of their roles from the opposition benches, who will set the strategy.

So, what can we expect of the new regime?

A main pillar of the new Government’s manifesto was growth and The Department for Business and Trade states on its front page that it is “the department for economic growth”.  It is fair to assume from this that the strategic aims of the department will remain the same, even if the tactics differ.

So far, I have not heard any discernible differences in the Export strategy either. The Secretary of State in the Department is Jonathan Reynolds. He was born in the North East, went to University of Manchester then joined a local form of Solicitors. After a short career in the law, he became MP for Stalybridge and Hyde in East Manchester in 2010, where he lives with his wife and 4 children. He has shadowed his current role since September 2023. He has espoused the aim for a joined-up approach to for the UK Economy. He has also recently commented on avidly pursuing export opportunities.

So far so good.

Every new regime wants to stamp their authority on policy, and we will have to wait and see how the department changes evolve under the new leadership, but the continuation of “UK open for business” mantra seems likely and as such there is no excuse for not advancing any plans you have for starting or expanding your exporting activities. As well as benefitting the country as a whole, exporting can significantly benefit your bottom line. Exporting is nothing more than selling into overseas markets. Whilst it always a challenge to sell into any new market, or even to win new customers, there is no reason not to expand into a new market overseas any more than into a new market in the UK.

Finding the right market is the first step. Analyse the characteristics of your current markets and customers and look for where those exist in other parts of the world. Consider new markets you have been planning on entering and look for where you can find those at home or abroad. You can find tremendous support for these activities from the CIEx but also from the DBT. This help is available online, but also in person by the DBT trade advisors – a wonderful scheme that pairs your business with real experts to help you navigate the world of exporting.

Unbelievably, it is completely free of charge.

Trade advisors often become an essential guide to a business, and they establish long term relationships to help support you. So whichever route you choose, there is great help available and huge opportunities to be found across the world.

Your writer is a long-standing member of the CIEx and a member of its Membership Committee.

Tony Goodman MBE

Useful links:
gov.uk/exporting
Made in the UK, Sold to the World
export.org.uk
britishchambers.org.uk

Tony Goodman MBE is a successful exporter and has been doing so through a variety of different businesses. He is currently Marketing Advisor at Forest and Co who specialise in offering guidance on branding, exporting and sales: www.forestandco.com

The post The times they are a changing… appeared first on Business Connect Magazine.