Training programmes and seminars provide an opportunity to get a feel for the potential of overseas markets. There is a range of export training and support available for you to access.

Invest Northern Ireland programmes

Currently, Invest NI delivers the Going Dutch programme which can help you gain access to Holland.  This assistance provides businesses with consultancy support, in addition to helping you with tailored market research and market visits.

• Going Dutch - a structured programme to help businesses with little or no experience of trading outside the British Isles to explore new opportunities in Holland.

Invest Northern Ireland seminars

Invest Northern Ireland holds free seminars to help businesses explore export opportunities. These sessions give companies an understanding of how to do business in specific countries. Invest Northern Ireland's overseas trade advisers are available at the seminars to provide advice. View the Invest NI International Trade Calendar.

UK Export Academy

The UK Export Academy from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) gives businesses the know-how to sell to customers around the world by learning from experts in international trade.

It is open to any business in the UK who has a product or service that can be sold internationally. It is for businesses who know that they want to reach international customers and contracts in the future, as well as those who might already be selling beyond the UK and want to expand into new markets.

Export Academy modules, which are delivered online and free of charge, are open to all Northern Ireland business regardless of their size or stage of exporting journey, to ensure that as many businesses as possible can learn from experts in international trade and successfully sell around the world.

Find out more about the UK Export Academy.

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce 

NI Chamber have a suite of tailored programmes of support to help your business grow locally and internationally.

Find out more about NI Chamber training and events.

InterTradeIreland

InterTradeIreland's Digital Sales Advanced offers up to 20 days of fully funded consultancy support. Businesses may nominate up to a maximum of three digital support modules that would help stimulate cross-border trade growth within their business.

Support and advice can be tailored to suit your company and is available in the following areas:

• Operational e-commerce
• Cyber security and data compliance
• Process improvement
• Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
• Conversation Rate Optimisation (CRO)
• Analytics and measurement
• Recruiting digital staff
• Influencer marketing
• Website development
• Cross-border digital strategy
• Paid social ads
• Google ads
• Email marketing
• Social media
• Content creation
• Other digital support

Find out more about the Digital Sales Advanced programme.

Council export support schemes

Local councils run programmes that provide export support. Current programmes include:

• Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council - International Trade and Development Programme
  Financial support for trade and development missions for businesses who want to be equipped with the relevant in-depth knowledge, know-how and confidence to successfully operate in new markets - find out more.

Business finance and support finder

The Business Finance and Support Finder is a searchable database that can help you find publicly-funded sources of assistance including training programmes. Support may be available in a number of forms, including financial assistance and free or subsidised advice services.

There are many sources of government funding for businesses in Northern Ireland wanting to trade overseas.

UK Export Finance

UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK's export credit agency providing trade finance and insurance to assist UK exporters of all sizes and across all sectors. The government department supports exports of all types, including goods, services and intellectual property.

Its regional network of Export Finance Advisers offers free export finance advice and guidance to UK exporters. This includes access to information on solving the financial challenges involved in selling overseas, including issues such as obtaining credit insurance to protect your business while taking advantage of international sales opportunities. Export Finance Advisers can also advise on UKEF's range of government-backed guarantees and insurance products.

UKEF can help you:

• Win contracts - under a buyer credit facility, can offer a guarantee to a bank that makes a loan to an overseas buyer to finance the purchase of UK goods and/or services. This can help exporters make their offering more competitive.
• Fulfil contracts - provides access to the working capital needed to fulfil a contract to help exporters take on more contracts and increase turnover.
• Get paid - offers insurance against the risk of not being paid, or of not being able to recover the costs of fulfilling an export contract.

The Export Working Capital Scheme helps UK exporters access working capital finance for specific export-related contracts.

UKEF can provide partial guarantees covering up to 80% of the risk to lenders to cover the credit risks associated with export working capital facilities both pre- and post-shipment. Find out more about the Export Working Capital Scheme.

Businesses in Northern Ireland can email UKEF's local Export Finance Manager at elizabeth.mccrory@ukexportfinance.gov.uk or call on Tel 028 9069 8070.

Invest Northern Ireland

Access to Finance is a package of five funds that help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with high growth potential. The financial support is available through loans and equity, to businesses of different sizes or at different stages of growth or development.

The Growth Loan Fund, part of Access to Finance, provides loans of between £100,000 and £500,000 over five years to established SMEs with growth and export potential.

InterTradeIreland

InterTradeIreland offers a range of support to export businesses, for example:

The Acumen programme can assist you to source and fund the right people to help you increase your cross-border export sales, including helping you improve your knowledge of the market and identify new business opportunities.

Business finance and support finder

The Business Finance and Support Finder is a searchable database that can help you find publicly-funded sources of assistance. Support may be available in a number of forms, including financial assistance and free or subsidised advice services.

Once you are established in your business in a chosen market there are numerous support schemes to provide ongoing support.

Trade Advisory Service

The Trade Advisory Service provides businesses with tailored export consultancy from Invest Northern Ireland advisors based in overseas markets. For information on the Trade Advisory Service call the Invest NI Business Support Team helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422.

Department for Business and Trade in-market support

Eligible UK businesses can access trade expertise and knowledge on exporting to specific countries from the Department for Business Trade’s (DBT) global network of international market hubs.

Businesses referred to a regional hub can expect to receive:

• one-to-one advice from an in-market trade adviser who can help businesses consider their next steps
• access to a wide range of sector reports, market intelligence, and guides related to things to consider on exporting to those markets
• introductions to a network of private sector service providers to help businesses with issues on a commercial basis, including local accountants, legal experts, and sector specialists

To be considered for support, businesses should have a:

• turnover of £500,000 or more
• product or service ready to export

Businesses should also have some experience of exporting already and be looking to enter or expand to a new market.

Find your nearest local trade office.

UK Tradeshow Programme

UK businesses exporting, or thinking about exporting, can apply for support to:

• exhibit at, or attend, approved overseas trade shows and conferences
• potentially receive grants to offset some costs

The support available through the programme varies.

All successful applicants will receive training on successfully exhibiting at:

• trade shows in general
• the specific approved event(s) that they have applied for

Some businesses may also receive a grant of either £2,000 or £4,000 as financial support to cover:

• exhibition space costs
• stand costs (including design, construction and stand dressing)
• conference fees, costs of preparing conference promotional material (where appropriate)

Find out more about the UK Tradeshow Programme.

It's important to know which markets offer the best fit with your business so that you can effectively target your export activity. Invest Northern Ireland has extensive databases and expertise to help you research export markets.  Focused market research will increase your chances of successfully selling into markets outside Northern Ireland.

Invest Northern Ireland Business Information Centre

The Invest NI Business Information Centre is based in Invest NI headquarters in Bedford Street, Belfast. It provides free access to market research, worldwide databases of potential customers or suppliers and directories listing exhibitions, trade journals and newspapers. To access this information, call the Invest NI Business Support Team helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422. See research competitors and markets.

Enterprise Europe Network

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) offers local support and advice to help businesses make the most of the opportunities in the European Union. The team can provide guidance on European Union funding, business opportunities and legislation. To access the support available through the Enterprise Europe Network, call the Invest NI Business Support Team helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422.

InterTradeIreland Acumen programme

InterTradeIreland's Acumen programme can assist you to source and fund the right people to help you increase your cross-border export sales North or South to help you improve your knowledge of the market and identify new business opportunities.

There are several sources of advice for businesses in Northern Ireland wanting to trade overseas.

Trader Support Service

Changes have been made to the way goods move in and out of Northern Ireland. If you have not already prepared for these changes, you may be unable to move your goods.

The Trader Support Service can help your business adapt to the changes. The service is free to use and:

• offers comprehensive education, training and advice about the changes to the way your goods move under the Windsor Framework
• can complete customs and safety and security declarations on your behalf where these are required for movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland so you do not have to access HMRC systems directly

Sign up for the Trader Support Service.

Northern Ireland Customs and Trade Academy (NICTA)

The Northern Ireland Customs and Trade Academy (NICTA) is an online learning platform preparing firms for new processes involved in moving goods under the Windsor Framework.

Developed as part of the Trader Support Service (TSS), NICTA provides online training, webinars and ‘how-to’ guides to all those involved in trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Access support from the Northern Ireland Customs & Trade Academy.

Export Support Service (ESS)

The Export Support Service is a UK government helpline and online service that businesses can access to get answers to practical questions about exporting to Europe. 

It is a free service available to all UK businesses. You can access the Export Support Service online or call the export support team on Tel 0300 303 8955.

If you’re a UK business trading with Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus or Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and have questions about the current trading situation, contact the UK government's export support team.

Invest Northern Ireland support

Invest NI offers a range of advisory support to businesses planning to sell outside Northern Ireland:

• Export Health Check - The Invest NI Export Health Check will help you assess your existing exporting capability. By answering a few short questions, you will be provided with a tailored guide that will give you the tools to develop your own bespoke export strategy.
• Workshops - suitable for businesses of all sizes, whether currently exporting or planning to export. Practical Export Skills workshops can assist those with operational responsibility for export business or senior staff who want a thorough understanding of the processes and practicalities of exporting. Businesses participating also have the opportunity to avail of a one-to-one mentoring session with an experienced export adviser. Each workshop costs £50 (including VAT) per person. 
• In-market research - Trade Advisers are based in Brazil, China (Beijing), Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Tokyo, Australia, Dubai, Europe, India, London (construction sector), Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United States of America. Additionally, specialist food advisors are located in France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
• Trade Advisory Services (TAS) GB/ROI - the Trade Advisory Service service provides consultants to work with businesses and assist them in growing their sales in the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain. New exporters can benefit from practical advice in identifying and addressing barriers to export trade while experienced exporters will benefit from increased export sales through current and new export market development and capability development. 
• Legal advice - assistance for companies new to exporting or selling into new overseas markets. This support is subject to eligibility criteria.
• Translation services - support for translation services for businesses new to foreign language markets and interpreting services for in-market meetings. This support is subject to eligibility criteria.

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce

NI Chamber offers technical expertise, training and advice, specific to the needs of companies trading from and with Northern Ireland.

View the range of export training courses.

The Export Documentation service from NI Chamber offers a range of services to help exporters complete the necessary paperwork required when exporting.

NI Chamber can help your business with customs declarations by processing import declarations to the Customs Declarations Service (CDS) for movements from GB to NI. To register for this service you should email: dawn.robertson@northernirelandchamber.com.

NI Chamber can also review your import and export processes to ensure that current processes are compliant and that the correct documentation and appropriate codes accompany export activity. To register for this service you should email: dawn.robertson@northernirelandchamber.com.

InterTradeIreland

InterTradeIreland offers various advisory support schemes to help businesses export.

Funding Advisory Service

InterTradeIreland’s Funding Advisory Service for Established Businesses is aimed at SMEs who are looking for new or alternative sources of funding to finance business growth. 

20 companies each year will be allowed to participate in the programme. 14 from the Republic of Ireland six from Northern Ireland. The programme's objective is to improve participants' capacity to raise finance to enable their businesses to grow. 

Note applicants to the programme will be required to have a minimum annual turnover of £100,000 (or €uro equivalent), have a trading history of a minimum of 18 months and should have attended a workshop. Applicants to the programme will be required to submit their most recent annual accounts and a business plan.

Trade Export Pathway

InterTradeIreland’s Trade Export Pathway offers free, specialist support to grow your exports across six different steps of the pathway. It’s a quick and simple application process and your business will benefit from bespoke support tailored to your specific needs.

The Trade Export Pathway aims to help businesses graduate from being non-exporters, first-time exporters, inexperienced exporters, and experienced exporters, to become advanced exporters.

Tailored support is available for each of the below steps, allowing you to have a specialist work with you and your business to help establish and grow your exports over time.

1. Charting your route: develop your cross-border export plan
2. Reaching the customer: develop your cross-border export marketing strategy
3. Opening the door: entering your target market
4. Selling your product: building sales development skills
5. Growing your exports: cross-border lead prospecting and generation
6. Measuring your success: cross-border business strategy development

Cross-Border Trade Hub

InterTradeIreland has created a comprehensive business hub, which contains the latest information for businesses engaged in, or planning to engage in, cross-border trade between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The Cross-Border Trade Hub provides information on a variety of topics, including trade in goods and services, focusing on customs, VAT, regulation and cross-border employment.

Access the Cross-Border Trade Hub.

Having knowledge of specific products or services that are in demand outside Northern Ireland, and keeping up-to-date on the latest contract opportunities, can help boost your business performance and profitability. There is support available to help you identify these openings.

Invest Northern Ireland support

• Tenders alert service - businesses can register to receive alerts of competitions for public sector contracts, which have just been advertised and match your area of expertise. The service costs £100 per annum. To sign up for tender notifications, call the Invest NI Boosting Business helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422. See research competitors and markets.
• Tender guides - specific guides have been developed to assist you tender for new opportunities. You can download: The Tender Process (PDF, 646KB), Top tips for successful tendering (PDF, 590KB), Preparation and understanding the market (PDF, 793KB).
• Workshops - there are regular workshops listed on our Events Finder that can assist with business tendering. 

When you're moving into a new business area, it pays to use the advice of people who already have significant experience. Other people who have been through the same processes can offer invaluable advice. They can also warn you of the potential pitfalls.

Invest Northern Ireland

Invest Northern Ireland provides services and programmes that put inexperienced international traders in touch with experienced traders to learn and share ideas. 

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce

NI Chamber run various high profile networking events, connections and forums to help local businesses connect.

View upcoming networking events and forums.

Training programmes and seminars provide an opportunity to get a feel for the potential of overseas markets. There is a range of export training and support available for you to access.

Invest Northern Ireland programmes

Currently, Invest NI delivers the Going Dutch programme which can help you gain access to Holland.  This assistance provides businesses with consultancy support, in addition to helping you with tailored market research and market visits.

• Going Dutch - a structured programme to help businesses with little or no experience of trading outside the British Isles to explore new opportunities in Holland.

Invest Northern Ireland seminars

Invest Northern Ireland holds free seminars to help businesses explore export opportunities. These sessions give companies an understanding of how to do business in specific countries. Invest Northern Ireland's overseas trade advisers are available at the seminars to provide advice. View the Invest NI International Trade Calendar.

UK Export Academy

The UK Export Academy from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) gives businesses the know-how to sell to customers around the world by learning from experts in international trade.

It is open to any business in the UK who has a product or service that can be sold internationally. It is for businesses who know that they want to reach international customers and contracts in the future, as well as those who might already be selling beyond the UK and want to expand into new markets.

Export Academy modules, which are delivered online and free of charge, are open to all Northern Ireland business regardless of their size or stage of exporting journey, to ensure that as many businesses as possible can learn from experts in international trade and successfully sell around the world.

Find out more about the UK Export Academy.

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce 

NI Chamber have a suite of tailored programmes of support to help your business grow locally and internationally.

Find out more about NI Chamber training and events.

InterTradeIreland

InterTradeIreland's Digital Sales Advanced offers up to 20 days of fully funded consultancy support. Businesses may nominate up to a maximum of three digital support modules that would help stimulate cross-border trade growth within their business.

Support and advice can be tailored to suit your company and is available in the following areas:

• Operational e-commerce
• Cyber security and data compliance
• Process improvement
• Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
• Conversation Rate Optimisation (CRO)
• Analytics and measurement
• Recruiting digital staff
• Influencer marketing
• Website development
• Cross-border digital strategy
• Paid social ads
• Google ads
• Email marketing
• Social media
• Content creation
• Other digital support

Find out more about the Digital Sales Advanced programme.

Council export support schemes

Local councils run programmes that provide export support. Current programmes include:

• Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council - International Trade and Development Programme
  Financial support for trade and development missions for businesses who want to be equipped with the relevant in-depth knowledge, know-how and confidence to successfully operate in new markets - find out more.

Business finance and support finder

The Business Finance and Support Finder is a searchable database that can help you find publicly-funded sources of assistance including training programmes. Support may be available in a number of forms, including financial assistance and free or subsidised advice services.

There are many sources of government funding for businesses in Northern Ireland wanting to trade overseas.

UK Export Finance

UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK's export credit agency providing trade finance and insurance to assist UK exporters of all sizes and across all sectors. The government department supports exports of all types, including goods, services and intellectual property.

Its regional network of Export Finance Advisers offers free export finance advice and guidance to UK exporters. This includes access to information on solving the financial challenges involved in selling overseas, including issues such as obtaining credit insurance to protect your business while taking advantage of international sales opportunities. Export Finance Advisers can also advise on UKEF's range of government-backed guarantees and insurance products.

UKEF can help you:

• Win contracts - under a buyer credit facility, can offer a guarantee to a bank that makes a loan to an overseas buyer to finance the purchase of UK goods and/or services. This can help exporters make their offering more competitive.
• Fulfil contracts - provides access to the working capital needed to fulfil a contract to help exporters take on more contracts and increase turnover.
• Get paid - offers insurance against the risk of not being paid, or of not being able to recover the costs of fulfilling an export contract.

The Export Working Capital Scheme helps UK exporters access working capital finance for specific export-related contracts.

UKEF can provide partial guarantees covering up to 80% of the risk to lenders to cover the credit risks associated with export working capital facilities both pre- and post-shipment. Find out more about the Export Working Capital Scheme.

Businesses in Northern Ireland can email UKEF's local Export Finance Manager at elizabeth.mccrory@ukexportfinance.gov.uk or call on Tel 028 9069 8070.

Invest Northern Ireland

Access to Finance is a package of five funds that help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with high growth potential. The financial support is available through loans and equity, to businesses of different sizes or at different stages of growth or development.

The Growth Loan Fund, part of Access to Finance, provides loans of between £100,000 and £500,000 over five years to established SMEs with growth and export potential.

InterTradeIreland

InterTradeIreland offers a range of support to export businesses, for example:

The Acumen programme can assist you to source and fund the right people to help you increase your cross-border export sales, including helping you improve your knowledge of the market and identify new business opportunities.

Business finance and support finder

The Business Finance and Support Finder is a searchable database that can help you find publicly-funded sources of assistance. Support may be available in a number of forms, including financial assistance and free or subsidised advice services.

Once you are established in your business in a chosen market there are numerous support schemes to provide ongoing support.

Trade Advisory Service

The Trade Advisory Service provides businesses with tailored export consultancy from Invest Northern Ireland advisors based in overseas markets. For information on the Trade Advisory Service call the Invest NI Business Support Team helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422.

Department for Business and Trade in-market support

Eligible UK businesses can access trade expertise and knowledge on exporting to specific countries from the Department for Business Trade’s (DBT) global network of international market hubs.

Businesses referred to a regional hub can expect to receive:

• one-to-one advice from an in-market trade adviser who can help businesses consider their next steps
• access to a wide range of sector reports, market intelligence, and guides related to things to consider on exporting to those markets
• introductions to a network of private sector service providers to help businesses with issues on a commercial basis, including local accountants, legal experts, and sector specialists

To be considered for support, businesses should have a:

• turnover of £500,000 or more
• product or service ready to export

Businesses should also have some experience of exporting already and be looking to enter or expand to a new market.

Find your nearest local trade office.

UK Tradeshow Programme

UK businesses exporting, or thinking about exporting, can apply for support to:

• exhibit at, or attend, approved overseas trade shows and conferences
• potentially receive grants to offset some costs

The support available through the programme varies.

All successful applicants will receive training on successfully exhibiting at:

• trade shows in general
• the specific approved event(s) that they have applied for

Some businesses may also receive a grant of either £2,000 or £4,000 as financial support to cover:

• exhibition space costs
• stand costs (including design, construction and stand dressing)
• conference fees, costs of preparing conference promotional material (where appropriate)

Find out more about the UK Tradeshow Programme.

It's important to know which markets offer the best fit with your business so that you can effectively target your export activity. Invest Northern Ireland has extensive databases and expertise to help you research export markets.  Focused market research will increase your chances of successfully selling into markets outside Northern Ireland.

Invest Northern Ireland Business Information Centre

The Invest NI Business Information Centre is based in Invest NI headquarters in Bedford Street, Belfast. It provides free access to market research, worldwide databases of potential customers or suppliers and directories listing exhibitions, trade journals and newspapers. To access this information, call the Invest NI Business Support Team helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422. See research competitors and markets.

Enterprise Europe Network

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) offers local support and advice to help businesses make the most of the opportunities in the European Union. The team can provide guidance on European Union funding, business opportunities and legislation. To access the support available through the Enterprise Europe Network, call the Invest NI Business Support Team helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422.

InterTradeIreland Acumen programme

InterTradeIreland's Acumen programme can assist you to source and fund the right people to help you increase your cross-border export sales North or South to help you improve your knowledge of the market and identify new business opportunities.

There are several sources of advice for businesses in Northern Ireland wanting to trade overseas.

Trader Support Service

Changes have been made to the way goods move in and out of Northern Ireland. If you have not already prepared for these changes, you may be unable to move your goods.

The Trader Support Service can help your business adapt to the changes. The service is free to use and:

• offers comprehensive education, training and advice about the changes to the way your goods move under the Windsor Framework
• can complete customs and safety and security declarations on your behalf where these are required for movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland so you do not have to access HMRC systems directly

Sign up for the Trader Support Service.

Northern Ireland Customs and Trade Academy (NICTA)

The Northern Ireland Customs and Trade Academy (NICTA) is an online learning platform preparing firms for new processes involved in moving goods under the Windsor Framework.

Developed as part of the Trader Support Service (TSS), NICTA provides online training, webinars and ‘how-to’ guides to all those involved in trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Access support from the Northern Ireland Customs & Trade Academy.

Export Support Service (ESS)

The Export Support Service is a UK government helpline and online service that businesses can access to get answers to practical questions about exporting to Europe. 

It is a free service available to all UK businesses. You can access the Export Support Service online or call the export support team on Tel 0300 303 8955.

If you’re a UK business trading with Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus or Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and have questions about the current trading situation, contact the UK government's export support team.

Invest Northern Ireland support

Invest NI offers a range of advisory support to businesses planning to sell outside Northern Ireland:

• Export Health Check - The Invest NI Export Health Check will help you assess your existing exporting capability. By answering a few short questions, you will be provided with a tailored guide that will give you the tools to develop your own bespoke export strategy.
• Workshops - suitable for businesses of all sizes, whether currently exporting or planning to export. Practical Export Skills workshops can assist those with operational responsibility for export business or senior staff who want a thorough understanding of the processes and practicalities of exporting. Businesses participating also have the opportunity to avail of a one-to-one mentoring session with an experienced export adviser. Each workshop costs £50 (including VAT) per person. 
• In-market research - Trade Advisers are based in Brazil, China (Beijing), Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Tokyo, Australia, Dubai, Europe, India, London (construction sector), Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United States of America. Additionally, specialist food advisors are located in France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
• Trade Advisory Services (TAS) GB/ROI - the Trade Advisory Service service provides consultants to work with businesses and assist them in growing their sales in the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain. New exporters can benefit from practical advice in identifying and addressing barriers to export trade while experienced exporters will benefit from increased export sales through current and new export market development and capability development. 
• Legal advice - assistance for companies new to exporting or selling into new overseas markets. This support is subject to eligibility criteria.
• Translation services - support for translation services for businesses new to foreign language markets and interpreting services for in-market meetings. This support is subject to eligibility criteria.

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce

NI Chamber offers technical expertise, training and advice, specific to the needs of companies trading from and with Northern Ireland.

View the range of export training courses.

The Export Documentation service from NI Chamber offers a range of services to help exporters complete the necessary paperwork required when exporting.

NI Chamber can help your business with customs declarations by processing import declarations to the Customs Declarations Service (CDS) for movements from GB to NI. To register for this service you should email: dawn.robertson@northernirelandchamber.com.

NI Chamber can also review your import and export processes to ensure that current processes are compliant and that the correct documentation and appropriate codes accompany export activity. To register for this service you should email: dawn.robertson@northernirelandchamber.com.

InterTradeIreland

InterTradeIreland offers various advisory support schemes to help businesses export.

Funding Advisory Service

InterTradeIreland’s Funding Advisory Service for Established Businesses is aimed at SMEs who are looking for new or alternative sources of funding to finance business growth. 

20 companies each year will be allowed to participate in the programme. 14 from the Republic of Ireland six from Northern Ireland. The programme's objective is to improve participants' capacity to raise finance to enable their businesses to grow. 

Note applicants to the programme will be required to have a minimum annual turnover of £100,000 (or €uro equivalent), have a trading history of a minimum of 18 months and should have attended a workshop. Applicants to the programme will be required to submit their most recent annual accounts and a business plan.

Trade Export Pathway

InterTradeIreland’s Trade Export Pathway offers free, specialist support to grow your exports across six different steps of the pathway. It’s a quick and simple application process and your business will benefit from bespoke support tailored to your specific needs.

The Trade Export Pathway aims to help businesses graduate from being non-exporters, first-time exporters, inexperienced exporters, and experienced exporters, to become advanced exporters.

Tailored support is available for each of the below steps, allowing you to have a specialist work with you and your business to help establish and grow your exports over time.

1. Charting your route: develop your cross-border export plan
2. Reaching the customer: develop your cross-border export marketing strategy
3. Opening the door: entering your target market
4. Selling your product: building sales development skills
5. Growing your exports: cross-border lead prospecting and generation
6. Measuring your success: cross-border business strategy development

Cross-Border Trade Hub

InterTradeIreland has created a comprehensive business hub, which contains the latest information for businesses engaged in, or planning to engage in, cross-border trade between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The Cross-Border Trade Hub provides information on a variety of topics, including trade in goods and services, focusing on customs, VAT, regulation and cross-border employment.

Access the Cross-Border Trade Hub.

Having knowledge of specific products or services that are in demand outside Northern Ireland, and keeping up-to-date on the latest contract opportunities, can help boost your business performance and profitability. There is support available to help you identify these openings.

Invest Northern Ireland support

• Tenders alert service - businesses can register to receive alerts of competitions for public sector contracts, which have just been advertised and match your area of expertise. The service costs £100 per annum. To sign up for tender notifications, call the Invest NI Boosting Business helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422. See research competitors and markets.
• Tender guides - specific guides have been developed to assist you tender for new opportunities. You can download: The Tender Process (PDF, 646KB), Top tips for successful tendering (PDF, 590KB), Preparation and understanding the market (PDF, 793KB).
• Workshops - there are regular workshops listed on our Events Finder that can assist with business tendering. 

When you're moving into a new business area, it pays to use the advice of people who already have significant experience. Other people who have been through the same processes can offer invaluable advice. They can also warn you of the potential pitfalls.

Invest Northern Ireland

Invest Northern Ireland provides services and programmes that put inexperienced international traders in touch with experienced traders to learn and share ideas. 

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce

NI Chamber run various high profile networking events, connections and forums to help local businesses connect.

View upcoming networking events and forums.

Training programmes and seminars provide an opportunity to get a feel for the potential of overseas markets. There is a range of export training and support available for you to access.

Invest Northern Ireland programmes

Currently, Invest NI delivers the Going Dutch programme which can help you gain access to Holland.  This assistance provides businesses with consultancy support, in addition to helping you with tailored market research and market visits.

• Going Dutch - a structured programme to help businesses with little or no experience of trading outside the British Isles to explore new opportunities in Holland.

Invest Northern Ireland seminars

Invest Northern Ireland holds free seminars to help businesses explore export opportunities. These sessions give companies an understanding of how to do business in specific countries. Invest Northern Ireland's overseas trade advisers are available at the seminars to provide advice. View the Invest NI International Trade Calendar.

UK Export Academy

The UK Export Academy from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) gives businesses the know-how to sell to customers around the world by learning from experts in international trade.

It is open to any business in the UK who has a product or service that can be sold internationally. It is for businesses who know that they want to reach international customers and contracts in the future, as well as those who might already be selling beyond the UK and want to expand into new markets.

Export Academy modules, which are delivered online and free of charge, are open to all Northern Ireland business regardless of their size or stage of exporting journey, to ensure that as many businesses as possible can learn from experts in international trade and successfully sell around the world.

Find out more about the UK Export Academy.

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce 

NI Chamber have a suite of tailored programmes of support to help your business grow locally and internationally.

Find out more about NI Chamber training and events.

InterTradeIreland

InterTradeIreland's Digital Sales Advanced offers up to 20 days of fully funded consultancy support. Businesses may nominate up to a maximum of three digital support modules that would help stimulate cross-border trade growth within their business.

Support and advice can be tailored to suit your company and is available in the following areas:

• Operational e-commerce
• Cyber security and data compliance
• Process improvement
• Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
• Conversation Rate Optimisation (CRO)
• Analytics and measurement
• Recruiting digital staff
• Influencer marketing
• Website development
• Cross-border digital strategy
• Paid social ads
• Google ads
• Email marketing
• Social media
• Content creation
• Other digital support

Find out more about the Digital Sales Advanced programme.

Council export support schemes

Local councils run programmes that provide export support. Current programmes include:

• Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council - International Trade and Development Programme
  Financial support for trade and development missions for businesses who want to be equipped with the relevant in-depth knowledge, know-how and confidence to successfully operate in new markets - find out more.

Business finance and support finder

The Business Finance and Support Finder is a searchable database that can help you find publicly-funded sources of assistance including training programmes. Support may be available in a number of forms, including financial assistance and free or subsidised advice services.

There are many sources of government funding for businesses in Northern Ireland wanting to trade overseas.

UK Export Finance

UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK's export credit agency providing trade finance and insurance to assist UK exporters of all sizes and across all sectors. The government department supports exports of all types, including goods, services and intellectual property.

Its regional network of Export Finance Advisers offers free export finance advice and guidance to UK exporters. This includes access to information on solving the financial challenges involved in selling overseas, including issues such as obtaining credit insurance to protect your business while taking advantage of international sales opportunities. Export Finance Advisers can also advise on UKEF's range of government-backed guarantees and insurance products.

UKEF can help you:

• Win contracts - under a buyer credit facility, can offer a guarantee to a bank that makes a loan to an overseas buyer to finance the purchase of UK goods and/or services. This can help exporters make their offering more competitive.
• Fulfil contracts - provides access to the working capital needed to fulfil a contract to help exporters take on more contracts and increase turnover.
• Get paid - offers insurance against the risk of not being paid, or of not being able to recover the costs of fulfilling an export contract.

The Export Working Capital Scheme helps UK exporters access working capital finance for specific export-related contracts.

UKEF can provide partial guarantees covering up to 80% of the risk to lenders to cover the credit risks associated with export working capital facilities both pre- and post-shipment. Find out more about the Export Working Capital Scheme.

Businesses in Northern Ireland can email UKEF's local Export Finance Manager at elizabeth.mccrory@ukexportfinance.gov.uk or call on Tel 028 9069 8070.

Invest Northern Ireland

Access to Finance is a package of five funds that help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with high growth potential. The financial support is available through loans and equity, to businesses of different sizes or at different stages of growth or development.

The Growth Loan Fund, part of Access to Finance, provides loans of between £100,000 and £500,000 over five years to established SMEs with growth and export potential.

InterTradeIreland

InterTradeIreland offers a range of support to export businesses, for example:

The Acumen programme can assist you to source and fund the right people to help you increase your cross-border export sales, including helping you improve your knowledge of the market and identify new business opportunities.

Business finance and support finder

The Business Finance and Support Finder is a searchable database that can help you find publicly-funded sources of assistance. Support may be available in a number of forms, including financial assistance and free or subsidised advice services.

Once you are established in your business in a chosen market there are numerous support schemes to provide ongoing support.

Trade Advisory Service

The Trade Advisory Service provides businesses with tailored export consultancy from Invest Northern Ireland advisors based in overseas markets. For information on the Trade Advisory Service call the Invest NI Business Support Team helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422.

Department for Business and Trade in-market support

Eligible UK businesses can access trade expertise and knowledge on exporting to specific countries from the Department for Business Trade’s (DBT) global network of international market hubs.

Businesses referred to a regional hub can expect to receive:

• one-to-one advice from an in-market trade adviser who can help businesses consider their next steps
• access to a wide range of sector reports, market intelligence, and guides related to things to consider on exporting to those markets
• introductions to a network of private sector service providers to help businesses with issues on a commercial basis, including local accountants, legal experts, and sector specialists

To be considered for support, businesses should have a:

• turnover of £500,000 or more
• product or service ready to export

Businesses should also have some experience of exporting already and be looking to enter or expand to a new market.

Find your nearest local trade office.

UK Tradeshow Programme

UK businesses exporting, or thinking about exporting, can apply for support to:

• exhibit at, or attend, approved overseas trade shows and conferences
• potentially receive grants to offset some costs

The support available through the programme varies.

All successful applicants will receive training on successfully exhibiting at:

• trade shows in general
• the specific approved event(s) that they have applied for

Some businesses may also receive a grant of either £2,000 or £4,000 as financial support to cover:

• exhibition space costs
• stand costs (including design, construction and stand dressing)
• conference fees, costs of preparing conference promotional material (where appropriate)

Find out more about the UK Tradeshow Programme.

It's important to know which markets offer the best fit with your business so that you can effectively target your export activity. Invest Northern Ireland has extensive databases and expertise to help you research export markets.  Focused market research will increase your chances of successfully selling into markets outside Northern Ireland.

Invest Northern Ireland Business Information Centre

The Invest NI Business Information Centre is based in Invest NI headquarters in Bedford Street, Belfast. It provides free access to market research, worldwide databases of potential customers or suppliers and directories listing exhibitions, trade journals and newspapers. To access this information, call the Invest NI Business Support Team helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422. See research competitors and markets.

Enterprise Europe Network

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) offers local support and advice to help businesses make the most of the opportunities in the European Union. The team can provide guidance on European Union funding, business opportunities and legislation. To access the support available through the Enterprise Europe Network, call the Invest NI Business Support Team helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422.

InterTradeIreland Acumen programme

InterTradeIreland's Acumen programme can assist you to source and fund the right people to help you increase your cross-border export sales North or South to help you improve your knowledge of the market and identify new business opportunities.

There are several sources of advice for businesses in Northern Ireland wanting to trade overseas.

Trader Support Service

Changes have been made to the way goods move in and out of Northern Ireland. If you have not already prepared for these changes, you may be unable to move your goods.

The Trader Support Service can help your business adapt to the changes. The service is free to use and:

• offers comprehensive education, training and advice about the changes to the way your goods move under the Windsor Framework
• can complete customs and safety and security declarations on your behalf where these are required for movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland so you do not have to access HMRC systems directly

Sign up for the Trader Support Service.

Northern Ireland Customs and Trade Academy (NICTA)

The Northern Ireland Customs and Trade Academy (NICTA) is an online learning platform preparing firms for new processes involved in moving goods under the Windsor Framework.

Developed as part of the Trader Support Service (TSS), NICTA provides online training, webinars and ‘how-to’ guides to all those involved in trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Access support from the Northern Ireland Customs & Trade Academy.

Export Support Service (ESS)

The Export Support Service is a UK government helpline and online service that businesses can access to get answers to practical questions about exporting to Europe. 

It is a free service available to all UK businesses. You can access the Export Support Service online or call the export support team on Tel 0300 303 8955.

If you’re a UK business trading with Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus or Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and have questions about the current trading situation, contact the UK government's export support team.

Invest Northern Ireland support

Invest NI offers a range of advisory support to businesses planning to sell outside Northern Ireland:

• Export Health Check - The Invest NI Export Health Check will help you assess your existing exporting capability. By answering a few short questions, you will be provided with a tailored guide that will give you the tools to develop your own bespoke export strategy.
• Workshops - suitable for businesses of all sizes, whether currently exporting or planning to export. Practical Export Skills workshops can assist those with operational responsibility for export business or senior staff who want a thorough understanding of the processes and practicalities of exporting. Businesses participating also have the opportunity to avail of a one-to-one mentoring session with an experienced export adviser. Each workshop costs £50 (including VAT) per person. 
• In-market research - Trade Advisers are based in Brazil, China (Beijing), Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Tokyo, Australia, Dubai, Europe, India, London (construction sector), Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United States of America. Additionally, specialist food advisors are located in France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
• Trade Advisory Services (TAS) GB/ROI - the Trade Advisory Service service provides consultants to work with businesses and assist them in growing their sales in the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain. New exporters can benefit from practical advice in identifying and addressing barriers to export trade while experienced exporters will benefit from increased export sales through current and new export market development and capability development. 
• Legal advice - assistance for companies new to exporting or selling into new overseas markets. This support is subject to eligibility criteria.
• Translation services - support for translation services for businesses new to foreign language markets and interpreting services for in-market meetings. This support is subject to eligibility criteria.

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce

NI Chamber offers technical expertise, training and advice, specific to the needs of companies trading from and with Northern Ireland.

View the range of export training courses.

The Export Documentation service from NI Chamber offers a range of services to help exporters complete the necessary paperwork required when exporting.

NI Chamber can help your business with customs declarations by processing import declarations to the Customs Declarations Service (CDS) for movements from GB to NI. To register for this service you should email: dawn.robertson@northernirelandchamber.com.

NI Chamber can also review your import and export processes to ensure that current processes are compliant and that the correct documentation and appropriate codes accompany export activity. To register for this service you should email: dawn.robertson@northernirelandchamber.com.

InterTradeIreland

InterTradeIreland offers various advisory support schemes to help businesses export.

Funding Advisory Service

InterTradeIreland’s Funding Advisory Service for Established Businesses is aimed at SMEs who are looking for new or alternative sources of funding to finance business growth. 

20 companies each year will be allowed to participate in the programme. 14 from the Republic of Ireland six from Northern Ireland. The programme's objective is to improve participants' capacity to raise finance to enable their businesses to grow. 

Note applicants to the programme will be required to have a minimum annual turnover of £100,000 (or €uro equivalent), have a trading history of a minimum of 18 months and should have attended a workshop. Applicants to the programme will be required to submit their most recent annual accounts and a business plan.

Trade Export Pathway

InterTradeIreland’s Trade Export Pathway offers free, specialist support to grow your exports across six different steps of the pathway. It’s a quick and simple application process and your business will benefit from bespoke support tailored to your specific needs.

The Trade Export Pathway aims to help businesses graduate from being non-exporters, first-time exporters, inexperienced exporters, and experienced exporters, to become advanced exporters.

Tailored support is available for each of the below steps, allowing you to have a specialist work with you and your business to help establish and grow your exports over time.

1. Charting your route: develop your cross-border export plan
2. Reaching the customer: develop your cross-border export marketing strategy
3. Opening the door: entering your target market
4. Selling your product: building sales development skills
5. Growing your exports: cross-border lead prospecting and generation
6. Measuring your success: cross-border business strategy development

Cross-Border Trade Hub

InterTradeIreland has created a comprehensive business hub, which contains the latest information for businesses engaged in, or planning to engage in, cross-border trade between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The Cross-Border Trade Hub provides information on a variety of topics, including trade in goods and services, focusing on customs, VAT, regulation and cross-border employment.

Access the Cross-Border Trade Hub.

Having knowledge of specific products or services that are in demand outside Northern Ireland, and keeping up-to-date on the latest contract opportunities, can help boost your business performance and profitability. There is support available to help you identify these openings.

Invest Northern Ireland support

• Tenders alert service - businesses can register to receive alerts of competitions for public sector contracts, which have just been advertised and match your area of expertise. The service costs £100 per annum. To sign up for tender notifications, call the Invest NI Boosting Business helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422. See research competitors and markets.
• Tender guides - specific guides have been developed to assist you tender for new opportunities. You can download: The Tender Process (PDF, 646KB), Top tips for successful tendering (PDF, 590KB), Preparation and understanding the market (PDF, 793KB).
• Workshops - there are regular workshops listed on our Events Finder that can assist with business tendering. 

When you're moving into a new business area, it pays to use the advice of people who already have significant experience. Other people who have been through the same processes can offer invaluable advice. They can also warn you of the potential pitfalls.

Invest Northern Ireland

Invest Northern Ireland provides services and programmes that put inexperienced international traders in touch with experienced traders to learn and share ideas. 

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce

NI Chamber run various high profile networking events, connections and forums to help local businesses connect.

View upcoming networking events and forums.

Training programmes and seminars provide an opportunity to get a feel for the potential of overseas markets. There is a range of export training and support available for you to access.

Invest Northern Ireland programmes

Currently, Invest NI delivers the Going Dutch programme which can help you gain access to Holland.  This assistance provides businesses with consultancy support, in addition to helping you with tailored market research and market visits.

• Going Dutch - a structured programme to help businesses with little or no experience of trading outside the British Isles to explore new opportunities in Holland.

Invest Northern Ireland seminars

Invest Northern Ireland holds free seminars to help businesses explore export opportunities. These sessions give companies an understanding of how to do business in specific countries. Invest Northern Ireland's overseas trade advisers are available at the seminars to provide advice. View the Invest NI International Trade Calendar.

UK Export Academy

The UK Export Academy from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) gives businesses the know-how to sell to customers around the world by learning from experts in international trade.

It is open to any business in the UK who has a product or service that can be sold internationally. It is for businesses who know that they want to reach international customers and contracts in the future, as well as those who might already be selling beyond the UK and want to expand into new markets.

Export Academy modules, which are delivered online and free of charge, are open to all Northern Ireland business regardless of their size or stage of exporting journey, to ensure that as many businesses as possible can learn from experts in international trade and successfully sell around the world.

Find out more about the UK Export Academy.

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce 

NI Chamber have a suite of tailored programmes of support to help your business grow locally and internationally.

Find out more about NI Chamber training and events.

InterTradeIreland

InterTradeIreland's Digital Sales Advanced offers up to 20 days of fully funded consultancy support. Businesses may nominate up to a maximum of three digital support modules that would help stimulate cross-border trade growth within their business.

Support and advice can be tailored to suit your company and is available in the following areas:

• Operational e-commerce
• Cyber security and data compliance
• Process improvement
• Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
• Conversation Rate Optimisation (CRO)
• Analytics and measurement
• Recruiting digital staff
• Influencer marketing
• Website development
• Cross-border digital strategy
• Paid social ads
• Google ads
• Email marketing
• Social media
• Content creation
• Other digital support

Find out more about the Digital Sales Advanced programme.

Council export support schemes

Local councils run programmes that provide export support. Current programmes include:

• Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council - International Trade and Development Programme
  Financial support for trade and development missions for businesses who want to be equipped with the relevant in-depth knowledge, know-how and confidence to successfully operate in new markets - find out more.

Business finance and support finder

The Business Finance and Support Finder is a searchable database that can help you find publicly-funded sources of assistance including training programmes. Support may be available in a number of forms, including financial assistance and free or subsidised advice services.

There are many sources of government funding for businesses in Northern Ireland wanting to trade overseas.

UK Export Finance

UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK's export credit agency providing trade finance and insurance to assist UK exporters of all sizes and across all sectors. The government department supports exports of all types, including goods, services and intellectual property.

Its regional network of Export Finance Advisers offers free export finance advice and guidance to UK exporters. This includes access to information on solving the financial challenges involved in selling overseas, including issues such as obtaining credit insurance to protect your business while taking advantage of international sales opportunities. Export Finance Advisers can also advise on UKEF's range of government-backed guarantees and insurance products.

UKEF can help you:

• Win contracts - under a buyer credit facility, can offer a guarantee to a bank that makes a loan to an overseas buyer to finance the purchase of UK goods and/or services. This can help exporters make their offering more competitive.
• Fulfil contracts - provides access to the working capital needed to fulfil a contract to help exporters take on more contracts and increase turnover.
• Get paid - offers insurance against the risk of not being paid, or of not being able to recover the costs of fulfilling an export contract.

The Export Working Capital Scheme helps UK exporters access working capital finance for specific export-related contracts.

UKEF can provide partial guarantees covering up to 80% of the risk to lenders to cover the credit risks associated with export working capital facilities both pre- and post-shipment. Find out more about the Export Working Capital Scheme.

Businesses in Northern Ireland can email UKEF's local Export Finance Manager at elizabeth.mccrory@ukexportfinance.gov.uk or call on Tel 028 9069 8070.

Invest Northern Ireland

Access to Finance is a package of five funds that help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with high growth potential. The financial support is available through loans and equity, to businesses of different sizes or at different stages of growth or development.

The Growth Loan Fund, part of Access to Finance, provides loans of between £100,000 and £500,000 over five years to established SMEs with growth and export potential.

InterTradeIreland

InterTradeIreland offers a range of support to export businesses, for example:

The Acumen programme can assist you to source and fund the right people to help you increase your cross-border export sales, including helping you improve your knowledge of the market and identify new business opportunities.

Business finance and support finder

The Business Finance and Support Finder is a searchable database that can help you find publicly-funded sources of assistance. Support may be available in a number of forms, including financial assistance and free or subsidised advice services.

Once you are established in your business in a chosen market there are numerous support schemes to provide ongoing support.

Trade Advisory Service

The Trade Advisory Service provides businesses with tailored export consultancy from Invest Northern Ireland advisors based in overseas markets. For information on the Trade Advisory Service call the Invest NI Business Support Team helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422.

Department for Business and Trade in-market support

Eligible UK businesses can access trade expertise and knowledge on exporting to specific countries from the Department for Business Trade’s (DBT) global network of international market hubs.

Businesses referred to a regional hub can expect to receive:

• one-to-one advice from an in-market trade adviser who can help businesses consider their next steps
• access to a wide range of sector reports, market intelligence, and guides related to things to consider on exporting to those markets
• introductions to a network of private sector service providers to help businesses with issues on a commercial basis, including local accountants, legal experts, and sector specialists

To be considered for support, businesses should have a:

• turnover of £500,000 or more
• product or service ready to export

Businesses should also have some experience of exporting already and be looking to enter or expand to a new market.

Find your nearest local trade office.

UK Tradeshow Programme

UK businesses exporting, or thinking about exporting, can apply for support to:

• exhibit at, or attend, approved overseas trade shows and conferences
• potentially receive grants to offset some costs

The support available through the programme varies.

All successful applicants will receive training on successfully exhibiting at:

• trade shows in general
• the specific approved event(s) that they have applied for

Some businesses may also receive a grant of either £2,000 or £4,000 as financial support to cover:

• exhibition space costs
• stand costs (including design, construction and stand dressing)
• conference fees, costs of preparing conference promotional material (where appropriate)

Find out more about the UK Tradeshow Programme.

It's important to know which markets offer the best fit with your business so that you can effectively target your export activity. Invest Northern Ireland has extensive databases and expertise to help you research export markets.  Focused market research will increase your chances of successfully selling into markets outside Northern Ireland.

Invest Northern Ireland Business Information Centre

The Invest NI Business Information Centre is based in Invest NI headquarters in Bedford Street, Belfast. It provides free access to market research, worldwide databases of potential customers or suppliers and directories listing exhibitions, trade journals and newspapers. To access this information, call the Invest NI Business Support Team helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422. See research competitors and markets.

Enterprise Europe Network

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) offers local support and advice to help businesses make the most of the opportunities in the European Union. The team can provide guidance on European Union funding, business opportunities and legislation. To access the support available through the Enterprise Europe Network, call the Invest NI Business Support Team helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422.

InterTradeIreland Acumen programme

InterTradeIreland's Acumen programme can assist you to source and fund the right people to help you increase your cross-border export sales North or South to help you improve your knowledge of the market and identify new business opportunities.

There are several sources of advice for businesses in Northern Ireland wanting to trade overseas.

Trader Support Service

Changes have been made to the way goods move in and out of Northern Ireland. If you have not already prepared for these changes, you may be unable to move your goods.

The Trader Support Service can help your business adapt to the changes. The service is free to use and:

• offers comprehensive education, training and advice about the changes to the way your goods move under the Windsor Framework
• can complete customs and safety and security declarations on your behalf where these are required for movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland so you do not have to access HMRC systems directly

Sign up for the Trader Support Service.

Northern Ireland Customs and Trade Academy (NICTA)

The Northern Ireland Customs and Trade Academy (NICTA) is an online learning platform preparing firms for new processes involved in moving goods under the Windsor Framework.

Developed as part of the Trader Support Service (TSS), NICTA provides online training, webinars and ‘how-to’ guides to all those involved in trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Access support from the Northern Ireland Customs & Trade Academy.

Export Support Service (ESS)

The Export Support Service is a UK government helpline and online service that businesses can access to get answers to practical questions about exporting to Europe. 

It is a free service available to all UK businesses. You can access the Export Support Service online or call the export support team on Tel 0300 303 8955.

If you’re a UK business trading with Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus or Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and have questions about the current trading situation, contact the UK government's export support team.

Invest Northern Ireland support

Invest NI offers a range of advisory support to businesses planning to sell outside Northern Ireland:

• Export Health Check - The Invest NI Export Health Check will help you assess your existing exporting capability. By answering a few short questions, you will be provided with a tailored guide that will give you the tools to develop your own bespoke export strategy.
• Workshops - suitable for businesses of all sizes, whether currently exporting or planning to export. Practical Export Skills workshops can assist those with operational responsibility for export business or senior staff who want a thorough understanding of the processes and practicalities of exporting. Businesses participating also have the opportunity to avail of a one-to-one mentoring session with an experienced export adviser. Each workshop costs £50 (including VAT) per person. 
• In-market research - Trade Advisers are based in Brazil, China (Beijing), Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Tokyo, Australia, Dubai, Europe, India, London (construction sector), Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United States of America. Additionally, specialist food advisors are located in France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
• Trade Advisory Services (TAS) GB/ROI - the Trade Advisory Service service provides consultants to work with businesses and assist them in growing their sales in the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain. New exporters can benefit from practical advice in identifying and addressing barriers to export trade while experienced exporters will benefit from increased export sales through current and new export market development and capability development. 
• Legal advice - assistance for companies new to exporting or selling into new overseas markets. This support is subject to eligibility criteria.
• Translation services - support for translation services for businesses new to foreign language markets and interpreting services for in-market meetings. This support is subject to eligibility criteria.

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce

NI Chamber offers technical expertise, training and advice, specific to the needs of companies trading from and with Northern Ireland.

View the range of export training courses.

The Export Documentation service from NI Chamber offers a range of services to help exporters complete the necessary paperwork required when exporting.

NI Chamber can help your business with customs declarations by processing import declarations to the Customs Declarations Service (CDS) for movements from GB to NI. To register for this service you should email: dawn.robertson@northernirelandchamber.com.

NI Chamber can also review your import and export processes to ensure that current processes are compliant and that the correct documentation and appropriate codes accompany export activity. To register for this service you should email: dawn.robertson@northernirelandchamber.com.

InterTradeIreland

InterTradeIreland offers various advisory support schemes to help businesses export.

Funding Advisory Service

InterTradeIreland’s Funding Advisory Service for Established Businesses is aimed at SMEs who are looking for new or alternative sources of funding to finance business growth. 

20 companies each year will be allowed to participate in the programme. 14 from the Republic of Ireland six from Northern Ireland. The programme's objective is to improve participants' capacity to raise finance to enable their businesses to grow. 

Note applicants to the programme will be required to have a minimum annual turnover of £100,000 (or €uro equivalent), have a trading history of a minimum of 18 months and should have attended a workshop. Applicants to the programme will be required to submit their most recent annual accounts and a business plan.

Trade Export Pathway

InterTradeIreland’s Trade Export Pathway offers free, specialist support to grow your exports across six different steps of the pathway. It’s a quick and simple application process and your business will benefit from bespoke support tailored to your specific needs.

The Trade Export Pathway aims to help businesses graduate from being non-exporters, first-time exporters, inexperienced exporters, and experienced exporters, to become advanced exporters.

Tailored support is available for each of the below steps, allowing you to have a specialist work with you and your business to help establish and grow your exports over time.

1. Charting your route: develop your cross-border export plan
2. Reaching the customer: develop your cross-border export marketing strategy
3. Opening the door: entering your target market
4. Selling your product: building sales development skills
5. Growing your exports: cross-border lead prospecting and generation
6. Measuring your success: cross-border business strategy development

Cross-Border Trade Hub

InterTradeIreland has created a comprehensive business hub, which contains the latest information for businesses engaged in, or planning to engage in, cross-border trade between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The Cross-Border Trade Hub provides information on a variety of topics, including trade in goods and services, focusing on customs, VAT, regulation and cross-border employment.

Access the Cross-Border Trade Hub.

Having knowledge of specific products or services that are in demand outside Northern Ireland, and keeping up-to-date on the latest contract opportunities, can help boost your business performance and profitability. There is support available to help you identify these openings.

Invest Northern Ireland support

• Tenders alert service - businesses can register to receive alerts of competitions for public sector contracts, which have just been advertised and match your area of expertise. The service costs £100 per annum. To sign up for tender notifications, call the Invest NI Boosting Business helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422. See research competitors and markets.
• Tender guides - specific guides have been developed to assist you tender for new opportunities. You can download: The Tender Process (PDF, 646KB), Top tips for successful tendering (PDF, 590KB), Preparation and understanding the market (PDF, 793KB).
• Workshops - there are regular workshops listed on our Events Finder that can assist with business tendering. 

When you're moving into a new business area, it pays to use the advice of people who already have significant experience. Other people who have been through the same processes can offer invaluable advice. They can also warn you of the potential pitfalls.

Invest Northern Ireland

Invest Northern Ireland provides services and programmes that put inexperienced international traders in touch with experienced traders to learn and share ideas. 

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce

NI Chamber run various high profile networking events, connections and forums to help local businesses connect.

View upcoming networking events and forums.

Training programmes and seminars provide an opportunity to get a feel for the potential of overseas markets. There is a range of export training and support available for you to access.

Invest Northern Ireland programmes

Currently, Invest NI delivers the Going Dutch programme which can help you gain access to Holland.  This assistance provides businesses with consultancy support, in addition to helping you with tailored market research and market visits.

• Going Dutch - a structured programme to help businesses with little or no experience of trading outside the British Isles to explore new opportunities in Holland.

Invest Northern Ireland seminars

Invest Northern Ireland holds free seminars to help businesses explore export opportunities. These sessions give companies an understanding of how to do business in specific countries. Invest Northern Ireland's overseas trade advisers are available at the seminars to provide advice. View the Invest NI International Trade Calendar.

UK Export Academy

The UK Export Academy from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) gives businesses the know-how to sell to customers around the world by learning from experts in international trade.

It is open to any business in the UK who has a product or service that can be sold internationally. It is for businesses who know that they want to reach international customers and contracts in the future, as well as those who might already be selling beyond the UK and want to expand into new markets.

Export Academy modules, which are delivered online and free of charge, are open to all Northern Ireland business regardless of their size or stage of exporting journey, to ensure that as many businesses as possible can learn from experts in international trade and successfully sell around the world.

Find out more about the UK Export Academy.

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce 

NI Chamber have a suite of tailored programmes of support to help your business grow locally and internationally.

Find out more about NI Chamber training and events.

InterTradeIreland

InterTradeIreland's Digital Sales Advanced offers up to 20 days of fully funded consultancy support. Businesses may nominate up to a maximum of three digital support modules that would help stimulate cross-border trade growth within their business.

Support and advice can be tailored to suit your company and is available in the following areas:

• Operational e-commerce
• Cyber security and data compliance
• Process improvement
• Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
• Conversation Rate Optimisation (CRO)
• Analytics and measurement
• Recruiting digital staff
• Influencer marketing
• Website development
• Cross-border digital strategy
• Paid social ads
• Google ads
• Email marketing
• Social media
• Content creation
• Other digital support

Find out more about the Digital Sales Advanced programme.

Council export support schemes

Local councils run programmes that provide export support. Current programmes include:

• Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council - International Trade and Development Programme
  Financial support for trade and development missions for businesses who want to be equipped with the relevant in-depth knowledge, know-how and confidence to successfully operate in new markets - find out more.

Business finance and support finder

The Business Finance and Support Finder is a searchable database that can help you find publicly-funded sources of assistance including training programmes. Support may be available in a number of forms, including financial assistance and free or subsidised advice services.

There are many sources of government funding for businesses in Northern Ireland wanting to trade overseas.

UK Export Finance

UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK's export credit agency providing trade finance and insurance to assist UK exporters of all sizes and across all sectors. The government department supports exports of all types, including goods, services and intellectual property.

Its regional network of Export Finance Advisers offers free export finance advice and guidance to UK exporters. This includes access to information on solving the financial challenges involved in selling overseas, including issues such as obtaining credit insurance to protect your business while taking advantage of international sales opportunities. Export Finance Advisers can also advise on UKEF's range of government-backed guarantees and insurance products.

UKEF can help you:

• Win contracts - under a buyer credit facility, can offer a guarantee to a bank that makes a loan to an overseas buyer to finance the purchase of UK goods and/or services. This can help exporters make their offering more competitive.
• Fulfil contracts - provides access to the working capital needed to fulfil a contract to help exporters take on more contracts and increase turnover.
• Get paid - offers insurance against the risk of not being paid, or of not being able to recover the costs of fulfilling an export contract.

The Export Working Capital Scheme helps UK exporters access working capital finance for specific export-related contracts.

UKEF can provide partial guarantees covering up to 80% of the risk to lenders to cover the credit risks associated with export working capital facilities both pre- and post-shipment. Find out more about the Export Working Capital Scheme.

Businesses in Northern Ireland can email UKEF's local Export Finance Manager at elizabeth.mccrory@ukexportfinance.gov.uk or call on Tel 028 9069 8070.

Invest Northern Ireland

Access to Finance is a package of five funds that help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with high growth potential. The financial support is available through loans and equity, to businesses of different sizes or at different stages of growth or development.

The Growth Loan Fund, part of Access to Finance, provides loans of between £100,000 and £500,000 over five years to established SMEs with growth and export potential.

InterTradeIreland

InterTradeIreland offers a range of support to export businesses, for example:

The Acumen programme can assist you to source and fund the right people to help you increase your cross-border export sales, including helping you improve your knowledge of the market and identify new business opportunities.

Business finance and support finder

The Business Finance and Support Finder is a searchable database that can help you find publicly-funded sources of assistance. Support may be available in a number of forms, including financial assistance and free or subsidised advice services.

Once you are established in your business in a chosen market there are numerous support schemes to provide ongoing support.

Trade Advisory Service

The Trade Advisory Service provides businesses with tailored export consultancy from Invest Northern Ireland advisors based in overseas markets. For information on the Trade Advisory Service call the Invest NI Business Support Team helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422.

Department for Business and Trade in-market support

Eligible UK businesses can access trade expertise and knowledge on exporting to specific countries from the Department for Business Trade’s (DBT) global network of international market hubs.

Businesses referred to a regional hub can expect to receive:

• one-to-one advice from an in-market trade adviser who can help businesses consider their next steps
• access to a wide range of sector reports, market intelligence, and guides related to things to consider on exporting to those markets
• introductions to a network of private sector service providers to help businesses with issues on a commercial basis, including local accountants, legal experts, and sector specialists

To be considered for support, businesses should have a:

• turnover of £500,000 or more
• product or service ready to export

Businesses should also have some experience of exporting already and be looking to enter or expand to a new market.

Find your nearest local trade office.

UK Tradeshow Programme

UK businesses exporting, or thinking about exporting, can apply for support to:

• exhibit at, or attend, approved overseas trade shows and conferences
• potentially receive grants to offset some costs

The support available through the programme varies.

All successful applicants will receive training on successfully exhibiting at:

• trade shows in general
• the specific approved event(s) that they have applied for

Some businesses may also receive a grant of either £2,000 or £4,000 as financial support to cover:

• exhibition space costs
• stand costs (including design, construction and stand dressing)
• conference fees, costs of preparing conference promotional material (where appropriate)

Find out more about the UK Tradeshow Programme.

It's important to know which markets offer the best fit with your business so that you can effectively target your export activity. Invest Northern Ireland has extensive databases and expertise to help you research export markets.  Focused market research will increase your chances of successfully selling into markets outside Northern Ireland.

Invest Northern Ireland Business Information Centre

The Invest NI Business Information Centre is based in Invest NI headquarters in Bedford Street, Belfast. It provides free access to market research, worldwide databases of potential customers or suppliers and directories listing exhibitions, trade journals and newspapers. To access this information, call the Invest NI Business Support Team helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422. See research competitors and markets.

Enterprise Europe Network

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) offers local support and advice to help businesses make the most of the opportunities in the European Union. The team can provide guidance on European Union funding, business opportunities and legislation. To access the support available through the Enterprise Europe Network, call the Invest NI Business Support Team helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422.

InterTradeIreland Acumen programme

InterTradeIreland's Acumen programme can assist you to source and fund the right people to help you increase your cross-border export sales North or South to help you improve your knowledge of the market and identify new business opportunities.

There are several sources of advice for businesses in Northern Ireland wanting to trade overseas.

Trader Support Service

Changes have been made to the way goods move in and out of Northern Ireland. If you have not already prepared for these changes, you may be unable to move your goods.

The Trader Support Service can help your business adapt to the changes. The service is free to use and:

• offers comprehensive education, training and advice about the changes to the way your goods move under the Windsor Framework
• can complete customs and safety and security declarations on your behalf where these are required for movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland so you do not have to access HMRC systems directly

Sign up for the Trader Support Service.

Northern Ireland Customs and Trade Academy (NICTA)

The Northern Ireland Customs and Trade Academy (NICTA) is an online learning platform preparing firms for new processes involved in moving goods under the Windsor Framework.

Developed as part of the Trader Support Service (TSS), NICTA provides online training, webinars and ‘how-to’ guides to all those involved in trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Access support from the Northern Ireland Customs & Trade Academy.

Export Support Service (ESS)

The Export Support Service is a UK government helpline and online service that businesses can access to get answers to practical questions about exporting to Europe. 

It is a free service available to all UK businesses. You can access the Export Support Service online or call the export support team on Tel 0300 303 8955.

If you’re a UK business trading with Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus or Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and have questions about the current trading situation, contact the UK government's export support team.

Invest Northern Ireland support

Invest NI offers a range of advisory support to businesses planning to sell outside Northern Ireland:

• Export Health Check - The Invest NI Export Health Check will help you assess your existing exporting capability. By answering a few short questions, you will be provided with a tailored guide that will give you the tools to develop your own bespoke export strategy.
• Workshops - suitable for businesses of all sizes, whether currently exporting or planning to export. Practical Export Skills workshops can assist those with operational responsibility for export business or senior staff who want a thorough understanding of the processes and practicalities of exporting. Businesses participating also have the opportunity to avail of a one-to-one mentoring session with an experienced export adviser. Each workshop costs £50 (including VAT) per person. 
• In-market research - Trade Advisers are based in Brazil, China (Beijing), Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Tokyo, Australia, Dubai, Europe, India, London (construction sector), Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United States of America. Additionally, specialist food advisors are located in France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
• Trade Advisory Services (TAS) GB/ROI - the Trade Advisory Service service provides consultants to work with businesses and assist them in growing their sales in the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain. New exporters can benefit from practical advice in identifying and addressing barriers to export trade while experienced exporters will benefit from increased export sales through current and new export market development and capability development. 
• Legal advice - assistance for companies new to exporting or selling into new overseas markets. This support is subject to eligibility criteria.
• Translation services - support for translation services for businesses new to foreign language markets and interpreting services for in-market meetings. This support is subject to eligibility criteria.

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce

NI Chamber offers technical expertise, training and advice, specific to the needs of companies trading from and with Northern Ireland.

View the range of export training courses.

The Export Documentation service from NI Chamber offers a range of services to help exporters complete the necessary paperwork required when exporting.

NI Chamber can help your business with customs declarations by processing import declarations to the Customs Declarations Service (CDS) for movements from GB to NI. To register for this service you should email: dawn.robertson@northernirelandchamber.com.

NI Chamber can also review your import and export processes to ensure that current processes are compliant and that the correct documentation and appropriate codes accompany export activity. To register for this service you should email: dawn.robertson@northernirelandchamber.com.

InterTradeIreland

InterTradeIreland offers various advisory support schemes to help businesses export.

Funding Advisory Service

InterTradeIreland’s Funding Advisory Service for Established Businesses is aimed at SMEs who are looking for new or alternative sources of funding to finance business growth. 

20 companies each year will be allowed to participate in the programme. 14 from the Republic of Ireland six from Northern Ireland. The programme's objective is to improve participants' capacity to raise finance to enable their businesses to grow. 

Note applicants to the programme will be required to have a minimum annual turnover of £100,000 (or €uro equivalent), have a trading history of a minimum of 18 months and should have attended a workshop. Applicants to the programme will be required to submit their most recent annual accounts and a business plan.

Trade Export Pathway

InterTradeIreland’s Trade Export Pathway offers free, specialist support to grow your exports across six different steps of the pathway. It’s a quick and simple application process and your business will benefit from bespoke support tailored to your specific needs.

The Trade Export Pathway aims to help businesses graduate from being non-exporters, first-time exporters, inexperienced exporters, and experienced exporters, to become advanced exporters.

Tailored support is available for each of the below steps, allowing you to have a specialist work with you and your business to help establish and grow your exports over time.

1. Charting your route: develop your cross-border export plan
2. Reaching the customer: develop your cross-border export marketing strategy
3. Opening the door: entering your target market
4. Selling your product: building sales development skills
5. Growing your exports: cross-border lead prospecting and generation
6. Measuring your success: cross-border business strategy development

Cross-Border Trade Hub

InterTradeIreland has created a comprehensive business hub, which contains the latest information for businesses engaged in, or planning to engage in, cross-border trade between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The Cross-Border Trade Hub provides information on a variety of topics, including trade in goods and services, focusing on customs, VAT, regulation and cross-border employment.

Access the Cross-Border Trade Hub.

Having knowledge of specific products or services that are in demand outside Northern Ireland, and keeping up-to-date on the latest contract opportunities, can help boost your business performance and profitability. There is support available to help you identify these openings.

Invest Northern Ireland support

• Tenders alert service - businesses can register to receive alerts of competitions for public sector contracts, which have just been advertised and match your area of expertise. The service costs £100 per annum. To sign up for tender notifications, call the Invest NI Boosting Business helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422. See research competitors and markets.
• Tender guides - specific guides have been developed to assist you tender for new opportunities. You can download: The Tender Process (PDF, 646KB), Top tips for successful tendering (PDF, 590KB), Preparation and understanding the market (PDF, 793KB).
• Workshops - there are regular workshops listed on our Events Finder that can assist with business tendering. 

When you're moving into a new business area, it pays to use the advice of people who already have significant experience. Other people who have been through the same processes can offer invaluable advice. They can also warn you of the potential pitfalls.

Invest Northern Ireland

Invest Northern Ireland provides services and programmes that put inexperienced international traders in touch with experienced traders to learn and share ideas. 

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce

NI Chamber run various high profile networking events, connections and forums to help local businesses connect.

View upcoming networking events and forums.

Training programmes and seminars provide an opportunity to get a feel for the potential of overseas markets. There is a range of export training and support available for you to access.

Invest Northern Ireland programmes

Currently, Invest NI delivers the Going Dutch programme which can help you gain access to Holland.  This assistance provides businesses with consultancy support, in addition to helping you with tailored market research and market visits.

• Going Dutch - a structured programme to help businesses with little or no experience of trading outside the British Isles to explore new opportunities in Holland.

Invest Northern Ireland seminars

Invest Northern Ireland holds free seminars to help businesses explore export opportunities. These sessions give companies an understanding of how to do business in specific countries. Invest Northern Ireland's overseas trade advisers are available at the seminars to provide advice. View the Invest NI International Trade Calendar.

UK Export Academy

The UK Export Academy from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) gives businesses the know-how to sell to customers around the world by learning from experts in international trade.

It is open to any business in the UK who has a product or service that can be sold internationally. It is for businesses who know that they want to reach international customers and contracts in the future, as well as those who might already be selling beyond the UK and want to expand into new markets.

Export Academy modules, which are delivered online and free of charge, are open to all Northern Ireland business regardless of their size or stage of exporting journey, to ensure that as many businesses as possible can learn from experts in international trade and successfully sell around the world.

Find out more about the UK Export Academy.

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce 

NI Chamber have a suite of tailored programmes of support to help your business grow locally and internationally.

Find out more about NI Chamber training and events.

InterTradeIreland

InterTradeIreland's Digital Sales Advanced offers up to 20 days of fully funded consultancy support. Businesses may nominate up to a maximum of three digital support modules that would help stimulate cross-border trade growth within their business.

Support and advice can be tailored to suit your company and is available in the following areas:

• Operational e-commerce
• Cyber security and data compliance
• Process improvement
• Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
• Conversation Rate Optimisation (CRO)
• Analytics and measurement
• Recruiting digital staff
• Influencer marketing
• Website development
• Cross-border digital strategy
• Paid social ads
• Google ads
• Email marketing
• Social media
• Content creation
• Other digital support

Find out more about the Digital Sales Advanced programme.

Council export support schemes

Local councils run programmes that provide export support. Current programmes include:

• Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council - International Trade and Development Programme
  Financial support for trade and development missions for businesses who want to be equipped with the relevant in-depth knowledge, know-how and confidence to successfully operate in new markets - find out more.

Business finance and support finder

The Business Finance and Support Finder is a searchable database that can help you find publicly-funded sources of assistance including training programmes. Support may be available in a number of forms, including financial assistance and free or subsidised advice services.

There are many sources of government funding for businesses in Northern Ireland wanting to trade overseas.

UK Export Finance

UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK's export credit agency providing trade finance and insurance to assist UK exporters of all sizes and across all sectors. The government department supports exports of all types, including goods, services and intellectual property.

Its regional network of Export Finance Advisers offers free export finance advice and guidance to UK exporters. This includes access to information on solving the financial challenges involved in selling overseas, including issues such as obtaining credit insurance to protect your business while taking advantage of international sales opportunities. Export Finance Advisers can also advise on UKEF's range of government-backed guarantees and insurance products.

UKEF can help you:

• Win contracts - under a buyer credit facility, can offer a guarantee to a bank that makes a loan to an overseas buyer to finance the purchase of UK goods and/or services. This can help exporters make their offering more competitive.
• Fulfil contracts - provides access to the working capital needed to fulfil a contract to help exporters take on more contracts and increase turnover.
• Get paid - offers insurance against the risk of not being paid, or of not being able to recover the costs of fulfilling an export contract.

The Export Working Capital Scheme helps UK exporters access working capital finance for specific export-related contracts.

UKEF can provide partial guarantees covering up to 80% of the risk to lenders to cover the credit risks associated with export working capital facilities both pre- and post-shipment. Find out more about the Export Working Capital Scheme.

Businesses in Northern Ireland can email UKEF's local Export Finance Manager at elizabeth.mccrory@ukexportfinance.gov.uk or call on Tel 028 9069 8070.

Invest Northern Ireland

Access to Finance is a package of five funds that help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with high growth potential. The financial support is available through loans and equity, to businesses of different sizes or at different stages of growth or development.

The Growth Loan Fund, part of Access to Finance, provides loans of between £100,000 and £500,000 over five years to established SMEs with growth and export potential.

InterTradeIreland

InterTradeIreland offers a range of support to export businesses, for example:

The Acumen programme can assist you to source and fund the right people to help you increase your cross-border export sales, including helping you improve your knowledge of the market and identify new business opportunities.

Business finance and support finder

The Business Finance and Support Finder is a searchable database that can help you find publicly-funded sources of assistance. Support may be available in a number of forms, including financial assistance and free or subsidised advice services.

Once you are established in your business in a chosen market there are numerous support schemes to provide ongoing support.

Trade Advisory Service

The Trade Advisory Service provides businesses with tailored export consultancy from Invest Northern Ireland advisors based in overseas markets. For information on the Trade Advisory Service call the Invest NI Business Support Team helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422.

Department for Business and Trade in-market support

Eligible UK businesses can access trade expertise and knowledge on exporting to specific countries from the Department for Business Trade’s (DBT) global network of international market hubs.

Businesses referred to a regional hub can expect to receive:

• one-to-one advice from an in-market trade adviser who can help businesses consider their next steps
• access to a wide range of sector reports, market intelligence, and guides related to things to consider on exporting to those markets
• introductions to a network of private sector service providers to help businesses with issues on a commercial basis, including local accountants, legal experts, and sector specialists

To be considered for support, businesses should have a:

• turnover of £500,000 or more
• product or service ready to export

Businesses should also have some experience of exporting already and be looking to enter or expand to a new market.

Find your nearest local trade office.

UK Tradeshow Programme

UK businesses exporting, or thinking about exporting, can apply for support to:

• exhibit at, or attend, approved overseas trade shows and conferences
• potentially receive grants to offset some costs

The support available through the programme varies.

All successful applicants will receive training on successfully exhibiting at:

• trade shows in general
• the specific approved event(s) that they have applied for

Some businesses may also receive a grant of either £2,000 or £4,000 as financial support to cover:

• exhibition space costs
• stand costs (including design, construction and stand dressing)
• conference fees, costs of preparing conference promotional material (where appropriate)

Find out more about the UK Tradeshow Programme.

It's important to know which markets offer the best fit with your business so that you can effectively target your export activity. Invest Northern Ireland has extensive databases and expertise to help you research export markets.  Focused market research will increase your chances of successfully selling into markets outside Northern Ireland.

Invest Northern Ireland Business Information Centre

The Invest NI Business Information Centre is based in Invest NI headquarters in Bedford Street, Belfast. It provides free access to market research, worldwide databases of potential customers or suppliers and directories listing exhibitions, trade journals and newspapers. To access this information, call the Invest NI Business Support Team helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422. See research competitors and markets.

Enterprise Europe Network

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) offers local support and advice to help businesses make the most of the opportunities in the European Union. The team can provide guidance on European Union funding, business opportunities and legislation. To access the support available through the Enterprise Europe Network, call the Invest NI Business Support Team helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422.

InterTradeIreland Acumen programme

InterTradeIreland's Acumen programme can assist you to source and fund the right people to help you increase your cross-border export sales North or South to help you improve your knowledge of the market and identify new business opportunities.

There are several sources of advice for businesses in Northern Ireland wanting to trade overseas.

Trader Support Service

Changes have been made to the way goods move in and out of Northern Ireland. If you have not already prepared for these changes, you may be unable to move your goods.

The Trader Support Service can help your business adapt to the changes. The service is free to use and:

• offers comprehensive education, training and advice about the changes to the way your goods move under the Windsor Framework
• can complete customs and safety and security declarations on your behalf where these are required for movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland so you do not have to access HMRC systems directly

Sign up for the Trader Support Service.

Northern Ireland Customs and Trade Academy (NICTA)

The Northern Ireland Customs and Trade Academy (NICTA) is an online learning platform preparing firms for new processes involved in moving goods under the Windsor Framework.

Developed as part of the Trader Support Service (TSS), NICTA provides online training, webinars and ‘how-to’ guides to all those involved in trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Access support from the Northern Ireland Customs & Trade Academy.

Export Support Service (ESS)

The Export Support Service is a UK government helpline and online service that businesses can access to get answers to practical questions about exporting to Europe. 

It is a free service available to all UK businesses. You can access the Export Support Service online or call the export support team on Tel 0300 303 8955.

If you’re a UK business trading with Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus or Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and have questions about the current trading situation, contact the UK government's export support team.

Invest Northern Ireland support

Invest NI offers a range of advisory support to businesses planning to sell outside Northern Ireland:

• Export Health Check - The Invest NI Export Health Check will help you assess your existing exporting capability. By answering a few short questions, you will be provided with a tailored guide that will give you the tools to develop your own bespoke export strategy.
• Workshops - suitable for businesses of all sizes, whether currently exporting or planning to export. Practical Export Skills workshops can assist those with operational responsibility for export business or senior staff who want a thorough understanding of the processes and practicalities of exporting. Businesses participating also have the opportunity to avail of a one-to-one mentoring session with an experienced export adviser. Each workshop costs £50 (including VAT) per person. 
• In-market research - Trade Advisers are based in Brazil, China (Beijing), Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Tokyo, Australia, Dubai, Europe, India, London (construction sector), Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United States of America. Additionally, specialist food advisors are located in France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
• Trade Advisory Services (TAS) GB/ROI - the Trade Advisory Service service provides consultants to work with businesses and assist them in growing their sales in the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain. New exporters can benefit from practical advice in identifying and addressing barriers to export trade while experienced exporters will benefit from increased export sales through current and new export market development and capability development. 
• Legal advice - assistance for companies new to exporting or selling into new overseas markets. This support is subject to eligibility criteria.
• Translation services - support for translation services for businesses new to foreign language markets and interpreting services for in-market meetings. This support is subject to eligibility criteria.

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce

NI Chamber offers technical expertise, training and advice, specific to the needs of companies trading from and with Northern Ireland.

View the range of export training courses.

The Export Documentation service from NI Chamber offers a range of services to help exporters complete the necessary paperwork required when exporting.

NI Chamber can help your business with customs declarations by processing import declarations to the Customs Declarations Service (CDS) for movements from GB to NI. To register for this service you should email: dawn.robertson@northernirelandchamber.com.

NI Chamber can also review your import and export processes to ensure that current processes are compliant and that the correct documentation and appropriate codes accompany export activity. To register for this service you should email: dawn.robertson@northernirelandchamber.com.

InterTradeIreland

InterTradeIreland offers various advisory support schemes to help businesses export.

Funding Advisory Service

InterTradeIreland’s Funding Advisory Service for Established Businesses is aimed at SMEs who are looking for new or alternative sources of funding to finance business growth. 

20 companies each year will be allowed to participate in the programme. 14 from the Republic of Ireland six from Northern Ireland. The programme's objective is to improve participants' capacity to raise finance to enable their businesses to grow. 

Note applicants to the programme will be required to have a minimum annual turnover of £100,000 (or €uro equivalent), have a trading history of a minimum of 18 months and should have attended a workshop. Applicants to the programme will be required to submit their most recent annual accounts and a business plan.

Trade Export Pathway

InterTradeIreland’s Trade Export Pathway offers free, specialist support to grow your exports across six different steps of the pathway. It’s a quick and simple application process and your business will benefit from bespoke support tailored to your specific needs.

The Trade Export Pathway aims to help businesses graduate from being non-exporters, first-time exporters, inexperienced exporters, and experienced exporters, to become advanced exporters.

Tailored support is available for each of the below steps, allowing you to have a specialist work with you and your business to help establish and grow your exports over time.

1. Charting your route: develop your cross-border export plan
2. Reaching the customer: develop your cross-border export marketing strategy
3. Opening the door: entering your target market
4. Selling your product: building sales development skills
5. Growing your exports: cross-border lead prospecting and generation
6. Measuring your success: cross-border business strategy development

Cross-Border Trade Hub

InterTradeIreland has created a comprehensive business hub, which contains the latest information for businesses engaged in, or planning to engage in, cross-border trade between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The Cross-Border Trade Hub provides information on a variety of topics, including trade in goods and services, focusing on customs, VAT, regulation and cross-border employment.

Access the Cross-Border Trade Hub.

Having knowledge of specific products or services that are in demand outside Northern Ireland, and keeping up-to-date on the latest contract opportunities, can help boost your business performance and profitability. There is support available to help you identify these openings.

Invest Northern Ireland support

• Tenders alert service - businesses can register to receive alerts of competitions for public sector contracts, which have just been advertised and match your area of expertise. The service costs £100 per annum. To sign up for tender notifications, call the Invest NI Boosting Business helpline on Tel 0800 181 4422. See research competitors and markets.
• Tender guides - specific guides have been developed to assist you tender for new opportunities. You can download: The Tender Process (PDF, 646KB), Top tips for successful tendering (PDF, 590KB), Preparation and understanding the market (PDF, 793KB).
• Workshops - there are regular workshops listed on our Events Finder that can assist with business tendering. 

When you're moving into a new business area, it pays to use the advice of people who already have significant experience. Other people who have been through the same processes can offer invaluable advice. They can also warn you of the potential pitfalls.

Invest Northern Ireland

Invest Northern Ireland provides services and programmes that put inexperienced international traders in touch with experienced traders to learn and share ideas. 

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce

NI Chamber run various high profile networking events, connections and forums to help local businesses connect.

View upcoming networking events and forums.