Tag: Business and Trade Department

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 26 November 2023.

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch has launched the landmark Advanced Manufacturing Plan (AMP) backed by billions to boost Britain’s manufacturing sector.

• Kemi Badenoch launches Advanced Manufacturing Plan (AMP) with over £2bn earmarked for the automotive industry, including batteries, and £975m for aerospace.
• New plan set to build on recent investment wins including up to £2bn from Nissan, £600m from BMW and £4bn from Tata to build a gigafactory.
• Hundreds of thousands of UK jobs on offer in battery sector alone, as new Battery Strategy includes £50m newly allocated government funding to deliver a globally competitive battery supply chain by 2030.
• Plan backs British industry, ensuring the long-term success of the advanced manufacturing sector and reinforces the UK as one of best places in the world to invest and do business.

Plans to build on British excellence in advanced manufacturing to secure long-term private investment and create high-paid jobs have been unveiled by the Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch today (26 November).

The landmark Advanced Manufacturing Plan (AMP) sets out the government’s initiative to ensure the UK is the best place in the world to start and grow a manufacturing business.

As outlined by the Chancellor last week, the government will offer certainty to business by committing more than £4.5 billion in targeted funding to back the long-term future of the UK’s world-leading manufacturing industries – automotive, aerospace, clean energy and life sciences. This includes support for batteries and industries undergoing fundamental changes to remain at the forefront of the global transition to net zero.

The plan outlines the key measures to improve the business environment and attract investment, including faster grid connections, full expensing and more apprenticeships.

It will ensure the UK uses its competitive advantage in manufacturing to become a world leader in the development of zero emissions technology, taking advantage of the thousands of jobs on offer. Our world-leading track record of decarbonisation makes us well placed to seize opportunities in the new global green economy.

This package builds on recent investment wins including up to £2 billion investment from Nissan in Sunderland, the £4 billion Tata gigafactory, the £600 million Electric Mini investment from BMW and Boeing unlocking £80 million of aerospace manufacturing investment in Sheffield, and ensures that the government can continue to help create jobs, grow the economy, and secure the future of great British manufacturing.

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch said: 

The UK recently overtook France to become the world’s eighth largest manufacturing economy. The Advanced Manufacturing Plan will build on that success by targeting funding at where we have a competitive advantage.

Industry wants a stable, long-term plan that has support for cutting edge technologies and a trade policy that delivers. The Advanced Manufacturing Plan does precisely that, securing the highly-skilled jobs of the future and driving economic growth.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: 

We are going full throttle to back British businesses and make the UK a world leader in manufacturing – which already makes up over 43 percent of all our exports and employs 2.6 million people across the country.

Today’s plan will not only give the industry the long-term certainty they need to grow and invest further in the UK, but it will also lay the foundations to create more jobs and opportunities for people across the country.

As we bring together the world’s biggest CEOs and investors together for the global investment summit tomorrow, this plan – backed by £4.5 billion – and the record sums of investment we’ve already attracted, make undoubtedly clear that the UK is open for business and is a vital part of our plan to grow the economy.

The battery sector alone could create 100,000 highly paid and skilled jobs in the UK and the Government has also today published the UK’s first ever Battery Strategy, outlining our plan for the UK to attract investment and achieve a globally competitive battery supply chain by 2030.

Global companies are already choosing to invest in the UK and for every pound of Government investment in the future of manufacturing, we are leveraging five pounds of additional private sector investment, providing a welcome boost for industry ahead of next week’s Global Investment Summit.

The Advanced Manufacturing Plan will build on this success and ensure we’re creating the right conditions for manufacturing to flourish, and that bureaucracy does not get in the way of investment.

To boost growth in small and medium sized manufacturing businesses more widely, it has also been announced that the government will expand the Made Smarter Adoption programme, offering the scheme to all English regions in 2025-26 before working with the Devolved Administrations to explore expanding the programme further from 2026-27.

Industry Minister Nusrat Ghani said:

Growing the battery industry is vital to positioning the UK as the best location in the world to manufacture electric vehicles, and building on the confidence we’ve given our supply chain through recent successes such as the investments from Tata, BMW and Nissan, plus the wealth of government support available to businesses.

I wanted to be ahead of the curve in working with Industry to produce a Battery Strategy. This will help businesses become more innovative and productive, future-proofing our economy and supporting our ambition towards a cleaner, greener future, and forms a crucial part of our Advanced Manufacturing Plan to back British industry for the long term.

The plan focuses on:

Investing in the future of UK manufacturing

A new Hydrogen Taskforce will maximise investment opportunities for the UK manufacturing of hydrogen propulsion systems. Hydrogen is expected to represent a crucial part of the UK’s future net zero energy system and is critical to supporting the UK’s energy security.

The Government’s Hydrogen Strategy sets out ambitions to reach up to 10GW of hydrogen production capacity by 2030, with at least half coming from electrolytic or ‘green’ hydrogen.

Building supply chain resilience

The prize in getting our battery industry right alone is worth 100,000 jobs by 2040, with thousands of further jobs available in the wider sector.

The UK’s Battery Strategy will seek to invest £50 million in developing the UK’s battery world-class capabilities, emphasising the importance of developing the batteries of the future by leveraging the UK’s world-leading research and innovation, securing a resilient UK manufacturing supply chain, and enabling the development of a vibrant and sustainable sector.

Reducing costs and barriers to business

At the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced further measures to back businesses and remove barriers to investment. This includes making the Full Expensing scheme permanent so businesses can invest for less – delivering an effective permanent tax cut of £11 billion a year for businesses who invest in IT equipment, plant and machinery. The move is set to boost business investment by £14 billion and help grow the economy.

With the tax cut now permanent, the UK will continue to have both the lowest headline corporation tax rate in the G7 and the most generous capital allowances in the OECD group of major advanced economies, such as the United States, Japan, South Korea and Germany.  Since the introduction of the super deduction – the predecessor to full expensing – in 2021, investment in the UK has grown the fastest in the G7.

The Advanced Manufacturing Plan also builds on existing support for the sector that includes the British Industry Supercharger ensuring energy costs for key industries like steel, metals, chemicals, and paper producers are in line with other major economies around the world and the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund supporting the deployment of technologies that is enabling hundreds of businesses with high energy use to transition to a low carbon future.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive said:

Decarbonising road transport is essential if net zero is to be achieved, and that transition must be ‘built in Britain’. The government’s Advanced Manufacturing Plan sets out measures to support the UK automotive supply chain as it undergoes the most significant transition in its history.

The plan, together with a new battery strategy to support the development and production of this critical technology, is essential if the UK is to compete in the face of fierce global competition. These initiatives can only help to attract the investment necessary to seize the growth opportunities a Net Zero economy offers.

Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS said:

ADS and our members welcome today’s Advanced Manufacturing Plan publication, reaffirming long-term backing for our world-leading advanced manufacturing sectors, including UK aerospace. This is a very timely intervention given the growing pace of aerospace recovery, huge aircraft order backlog and industries’ continued commitment to net zero.

Our aerospace sector provides high-skilled jobs throughout the country, and set against a backdrop of increasing global competition, the continued commitment towards aerospace R&D is significant. These measures will provide a boost to continued investment in innovation and advanced manufacturing in the UK, in turn securing the future advantage of our industry.

Stephen Phipson, CEO of Make UK said:

A battery strategy is very welcome and much needed. Having a joined-up battery plan in place will be critical for the UK economy to benefit fully from new technological opportunities going forward, and we must ensure that manufacturing involves the entire supply chain, right from design to manufacturing and recycling, closely connecting car and battery industries.

Recycling will also be very important to recover those critical materials that are essential for the low-carbon economy, and this joined up Advanced Manufacturing Plan will help deliver better coordination across the whole of the clean energy sectors.   > Make UK and industry will continue to work with the government on the practicalities of this plan, including how to incorporate manufacturing supply chains. These supply chains have a key role in supplying components and services for clean energy in the future low-carbon economy and we must ensure that the full potential is delivered to enable our companies to compete on the global stage.

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Michelle Donelan said:

If we are to seize the enormous potential for advanced manufacturing to create jobs and grow the economy in every part of the UK, it is critical that we support our brightest minds in turning brilliant ideas into marketable products, and even entire businesses.

The £61 million investment we are making in battery R&D will help UK manufacturers grow this burgeoning industry, by ensuring they can access the skills, infrastructure and early investment that they need to flourish.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 22 November 2023.

The Secretary of State for Business and Trade reacts to today’s Autumn Statement and what this means for businesses and consumers.

At today’s Autumn Statement the Chancellor announced a range of proposals promoted by the Department for Business and Trade that provide further financial backing to UK businesses, will improve regulation, and stimulate investment and growth across the country. The government will further set out its priorities for supporting growth and attracting investment at the Global Investment Summit on Monday 27 November.

Welcoming the Autumn Statement, Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said:

My department put forward a number of measures for the Autumn Statement intended to help boost British businesses of all sizes and place their success at the heart of the Government’s agenda.

The Autumn Statement has taken on several of these proposals and gives businesses the certainty to invest in the future, cuts costs through lower taxes, and provides small and medium-sized businesses with greater confidence that they will be paid on time.

As the department for economic growth, DBT will continue to bring together the Government’s work to open markets abroad and back business at home.

The Autumn Statement contained a range of pro-business, pro-growth measures including:

• More than £2 billion over the next five years earmarked for the automotive industry via the Advanced Manufacturing Plan. The funding will support the UK’s manufacturing sector, supply chain and development of zero emission vehicles and will oversee £975 million of funding to support Airbus and Rolls-Royce develop technologies for the next generation of aircraft and engines. The new funding builds on the UK’s existing strong investment environment and support, including support such as the British Industry Supercharger and the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund, as well as cross-economy measures, such as the lowest corporation tax in the G7 and making full expensing for plant and machinery investments permanent.
• Permanent Full Expensing – giving businesses the certainty to confidently invest for less. A company can now permanently claim 100% capital allowances on qualifying main rate plant and machinery investments, meaning that for every pound invested its taxes are cut by up to 25p.
• A business rates support package worth £4.3 billion over the next 5 years will help high streets and protect those small businesses that are the backbones of communities. This includes a rollover of 75% Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief for 230,000 properties and a freeze to the small business multiplier, which will protect around 90% of ratepayers for a fourth consecutive year.
• We intend to establish a new Growth Fund within the British Business Bank (BBB) with a permanent capital base of over £7bn to crowd-in pension scheme capital to the UK’s most promising businesses.
• Further funding for two BBB programmes – the Long-Term Investment in Technology and Science (LIFTS) scheme which will make £250 million available to successful bidders in order to increase investment in key science and technology sectors, and £50 million for the Future Fund Breakthrough scheme to continue backing businesses which focus heavily on Research and Development.
• SME support – including tougher regulation on late payers, Smarter Regulation on improving price transparency for consumers, the expansion of Made Smarter in Great Britain and continued funding for Help to Grow.
• The existing R&D Expenditure Credit and Small and Medium Enterprise Scheme will be merged from April 2024, simplifying the system and boosting innovation in the UK.
• Freeport tax reliefs in England will be extended from five to ten years until September 2031, providing greater certainty to businesses looking to invest, delivering growth and jobs, and levelling up the economy.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 22 November 2023.

Update on the fifth round of negotiations for a free trade agreement between the UK and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The fifth round of negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between the UK and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) took place between 5 and 16 November.

The round was hosted by the GCC in Riyadh and held in a hybrid fashion. A number of UK negotiators travelled to Riyadh for in-person discussions with others attending virtually.

Draft treaty text was advanced across the majority of chapters. Technical discussions were held across 21 policy areas over 40 sessions. Good progress was made and both sides remain committed to securing an ambitious, comprehensive and modern agreement fit for the 21st century.

An FTA will be a substantial economic opportunity and a significant moment in the UK-GCC relationship. Total trade was worth £61.5 billion according to latest figures.

The sixth round of negotiations is expected to be held in the first quarter of 2024.

His Majesty’s Government remains clear that any deal signed will be in the best interests of the British people and the United Kingdom economy.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 21 November 2023.

Talks launch tomorrow [Wednesday 22 November] on an upgraded trade deal with South Korea.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 20 November 2023.

The iconic British building will host the Prime Minister and over 200 CEOs for landmark summit, expected to secure billions of investment, drive economic growth and create jobs across the UK.

Hampton Court Palace will be the venue for next week’s Global Investment Summit, Minister for Investment Lord Dominic Johnson confirms today.

Jointly hosted by the Prime Minister and the Department for Business and Trade, the summit will take place on Monday 27 November and focus on ‘Great British Ideas – Past, Present and Future’.

This includes a showcase of pioneering innovators from across the UK, with significant investment opportunities in sectors including technology, sustainability, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and creative industries.

More than 200 of the world’s leading CEOs are expected to attend the exclusive summit, which will showcase the UK as one of the best places in the world to do business and drive billions of pounds of new and strategic investment into every corner of the economy. In 2022/23 alone, 80,000 jobs were created through FDI projects, notably in Scotland, Wales, the North and the Midlands.

Following the summit, His Majesty The King will host a reception at Buckingham Palace. Further detail will be issued by Buckingham Palace in due course.

Minister for Investment, Lord Johnson said:

The UK is a top global investment destination, and this event will help secure billions of pounds of valuable investment that has the power to drive economic growth and create jobs.

I’m hugely excited that our Global Investment Summit will be staged at the historic Hampton Court Palace. For centuries, this Palace was a focal point for exploration, innovation and discovery, with famous Britons from Henry VIII to William Shakespeare having lived or visited here.

It is fitting that Hampton Court Palace will continue this tradition and bring together cutting-edge British innovators and the world’s biggest investors to forge new dynamic partnerships.

Chief Executive at Historic Royal Palaces, John Barnes said:

We are delighted to host the Global Investment Summit at Hampton Court Palace, a place that has formed the backdrop to historic events for over 500 years. Since the 16th century, the Palace has been a place filled with ambassadors, explorers, traders and some of the greatest minds of their time, including William Shakespeare, who was commissioned to perform his plays in the Great Hall.

Today, Historic Royal Palaces continues these traditions of exploration, innovation and creativity, and we hope that everyone at the summit will be inspired in the same way by those who came before.

Boasting a rich history back to the 16th Century, the palace – which is cared for by independent charity Historic Royal Palaces – has showcased the best of British sport, theatre and fine art, and has been used as a backdrop for numerous TV programmes and films including Bridgerton, The Favourite and The Theory of Everything.

Investors will also get a quintessentially British experience at the summit, with Beefeaters lining the red carpet as they arrive at the venue, with afternoon tea also being served before carriages depart for Buckingham Palace.

As confirmed earlier this month, speakers at the summit include Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman and Founder of eponymous fashion label Anya Hindmarch CBE.

The UK’s biggest banks – Barclays, HSBC and Lloyds Bank – have also been confirmed as sponsors and principal partners.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 16 November 2023.

The Government has today taken further steps to ensure essential public services remain open during industrial action.

The Government has today [16 November 2023] taken further steps to ensure essential public services remain open during industrial action.

Following Royal Assent of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act in July, guidance has now been published to support employers, trade unions and workers with issuing work notices.

Where strike action is called and where minimum service level regulations are in place, employers can issue work notices to identify people who are required to work to help ensure the minimum service levels are met. Today’s guidance will support employers, trade unions and workers on issuing these work notices.

Earlier this week, the Government also laid a Code of Practice in Parliament which sets out the reasonable steps trade unions should take to ensure their members comply with work notices and help ensure minimum service levels are met. The government response to the public consultation on the Code of Practice was also published.

The reasonable steps include but are not limited to, clearly identifying members, contacting those named in a work notice and advising them not to strike, and seeking to avoid encouraging those named in a work notice not to cross a picket line.

If a union fails to take these reasonable steps, they will lose their legal protection from damages claims and possible injunctions. Last year we raised the maximum damages that courts can award against a union for unlawful strike action. For the biggest unions, the maximum award has risen from £250,000 to £1 million.

Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake said:

The ability to strike needs to be balanced with ensuring people continue to have access to essential services.

Businesses should also not have their freedoms restricted by burdensome regulations that aren’t justified. This is why we are seeking views on removing such unnecessary rules, so businesses are able to decide for themselves what staffing is required.

Last week, the government announced Minimum Service Levels legislation is to be passed for passenger rail, ambulance and border security staff. This legislation brings us in line with countries like France, Italy, Spain and the US where public services reliably continue during strikes. The International Labour Organisation also recognises Minimum Service Levels as a sensible solution to protect the public from serious consequences of strikes.

The Minimum Service Levels are designed to be effective and proportionate by balancing the ability to take strike action with ensuring we can keep our borders secure, supporting people to make important journeys including accessing work, education, and healthcare, and allowing people to get the emergency care they need.

The Government is also launching a consultation on removing outdated regulations which currently prevent agency workers from covering strikes. Under these proposals, agency workers would be able to provide temporary cover in all sectors. Employment businesses must satisfy themselves that any worker supplied is suitably qualified in order to maintain high standards of service.

Regulation 7 of the Conduct Regulations currently prevents employment businesses (often referred to as agencies) from supplying agency workers to replace workers who are taking part in an official strike or other industrial action. Repealing this regulation would not affect the ability of workers to strike or the protections workers on strike currently enjoy.

It would permit, but not require, businesses to bring in agency staff during a strike if they wish to do so and give employment businesses more flexibility in how they support their clients when faced with industrial action, such as strikes. It would also allow workers the freedom to accept roles that involve temporarily replacing workers taking part in strikes.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 15 November 2023.

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch in California for her first in-person meeting with CPTPP countries since she was in New Zealand to sign the deal in July.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 14 November 2023.

The new ATI SME Programme will provide up to £10 million per year in funding opportunities for UK aerospace SMEs’ cutting-edge R&D projects.

• Government launches new funding Programme targeting cutting-edge SME aerospace research projects to advance net zero aviation and boost high-skilled jobs.
• Worth up to £10 million per year, the Programme will help secure more high-skilled aerospace jobs across the UK.
• Funding provided through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) will drive innovative UK SME research projects and grow UK’s share of global aerospace sector, helping to grow the economy.

Cutting-edge British aerospace companies are set to benefit from a new multi-million pound SME Programme that will secure high-skilled jobs and help the UK lead the way on greener air travel.

The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) SME Programme will offer UK-based small and medium-sized firms the chance to bid for a share of £10 million total funding per year towards their innovative research projects.

The Programme is being announced by Industry Minister Nusrat Ghani today (14 November) at the ATI’s 2023 Conference in Birmingham. It will be delivered in partnership with the ATI and Innovate UK.

Industry Minister Nusrat Ghani said:

I’m delighted to announce the new ATI SME Funding Programme, which will help propel our world-leading aerospace sector to new heights in the pursuit of innovative, clean, green air travel.

UK aerospace businesses, with their expertise and innovation, are helping drive the industry on its journey to Net Zero by 2050, and in the process are helping us grow the UK economy and support high-skill, high-wage jobs.

ATI CEO Gary Elliott said:

We know from the success of the ATI Programme that supporting advanced technologies secures market share for the UK, bringing economic benefit and delivering against the sector’s sustainability commitments on our journey to Destination Zero.

By connecting capability and funding technology development, the SME Programme will benefit organisations of all sizes across the nations and regions of the UK.

The new Programme will open to applications in February 2024 and aims to give SMEs the best opportunities possible to apply for funding to develop innovative technologies supporting the Government’s commitment to Jet Zero.

This is the plan to achieve net zero carbon emissions for commercial aircraft by 2050, while also keeping the UK’s aerospace industry competitive in the sustainable design, manufacture, assembly and operation of future aircraft.

The Programme will allow SMEs in the UK aerospace sector to bid for grants of up to £1.5 million each, helping to boost high-skilled jobs in the industry across the UK.

It also builds on the Government’s commitment to backing UK aerospace R&D to succeed, as demonstrated by the ATI Programme, for which government provided £685 million in 2022.

Support for organisations engaging with the SME Programme will be delivered by the ATI Hub. This will include sessions with ATI technologists, themed innovation workshops and guidance on preparing for a pitch-panel presentation.

The ATI Hub can also generate new connections between start-ups, SMEs, bigger and tier one organisations which could become consortia applications to the SME Programme.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 10 November 2023.

British goods remain eligible for reduced or zero tariffs to Mexico after UK secures extension to ‘rules of origin’ provisions.

The UK has secured an extension to arrangements that were due to expire, helping British manufacturers access lower or zero tariffs when selling their products to Mexico.

The arrangement will come into effect from 1 January 2024 and will remain in place until a new UK-Mexico Free Trade Agreement enters into force.

The deal will provide welcome certainty for UK businesses, helping them to continue avoiding high tariffs imposed by Mexico and maintain their competitive edge in the market. The announcement is particularly welcome news for the automotive and food and drink sectors, with road vehicles accounting for almost £300 million in exports to Mexico, almost 20% of all goods exported.

Mexico is the 14th largest economy in the world and second largest in Latin America, and its demand for imports is forecast to grow by 42% between 2021 and 2035 as its economy continues to grow. With a population of over 130 million people, its market is larger than France and Italy combined.

Minister for Industry and Economic Security Nusrat Ghani said:

Ensuring UK goods avoid higher tariffs is essential for British businesses to stay competitive in this huge and dynamic market of over 130 million people.

This extension will provide UK businesses exporting to Mexico with certainty as they plan for next year and beyond while the UK and Mexico negotiate an exciting new trade deal covering the 21st century economy.”

When the UK negotiated its current trade agreement with Mexico, rolled over from our membership of the EU, time-restricted provisions were agreed to allow for the use of EU inputs in UK products in meeting the UK-Mexico rules of origin. The extension will apply until the entry into force of new, permanent rules as part of a new, enhanced free trade agreement with Mexico.

Protecting our integrated supply chains with longstanding trade partners like Mexico is vital for both British and Mexican businesses as we continue to see supply chain disruption impact the global economy. This extension will therefore benefit businesses in both countries.

The UK and Mexico launched negotiations on the new deal in May 2022. The deal is intended to replace our existing, outdated trade deal which was agreed over 20 years ago and boost our £6.2 billion trading relationship.

Chief Executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Mike Hawes said:

We welcome this pragmatic decision as it avoids duty liabilities from January 2024 which, given the long standing and productive relationship between the UK and Mexican automotive industries, would have undermined our mutual trade. Mexico is among the top 10 global markets for UK car exports and we now look forward to the swift agreement of a modernised trade deal as this would deliver even more benefits for both sides, boosting bilateral trade in hybrid and ICE technologies as well as zero emission vehicles.”

Director of Sustainability and Growth at the Food and Drink Federation Balwinder Dhoot said:

This is welcome news for UK food and drink manufacturers, avoiding any disruption to an increasing export market worth almost £175 million to the UK, our third largest in Latin America. It helps maintain important partnerships that are already established between UK and Mexican businesses, and allows continuity and certainty to exporters until a new and ambitious agreement is negotiated. This will help businesses to export more and ensures continued access to seasonal imported ingredients that complement our industry’s use of domestic produce.”

The news comes as International Trade Weeks comes to a close. Businesses from across the UK participated in over 170 events and activities across the week aimed at supporting them sell internationally for the first time.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 9 November 2023.

The Department for Business and Trade has launched the Dairy Export Programme designed to help grow agri-food exports in overseas markets.

• New Dairy Export Programme launched to help grow agri-food exports in overseas markets.
• Programme includes UK Dairy Showcase, education sessions and trade missions and follows £1m funding committed to dairy sector exports by the Prime Minister in May at the Farm to Fork Summit.
• Minister for Exports Lord Offord visits Lye Cross Farm in Bristol to launch programme and showcase government support for UK dairy sector, which exported over £2 billion of products to 135 countries in 2022.

The UK’s dairy industry is set to be boosted by a brand-new programme to increase exports, the Government announced today (9 November).

The Dairy Export Programme, which Minister for Exports Lord Offord will formally launch today during a visit to Lye Cross Farm in Bristol, will help UK agri-businesses grow by seizing new export opportunities and exploiting overseas markets for their products through a comprehensive package of export support.

The Prime Minister committed £1 million to the dairy sector at the Farm to Fork Summit hosted at 10 Downing Street in May. The Dairy Export Programme is a direct result of this funding and forms part of a wider package of Government support for agriculture, food and drink. This includes an investment of £2 million to boost DBT’s programme of global tradeshows and missions, which will be delivered in partnership with industry and the Food and Drink Export Council.

The programme will provide a wide range of targeted support for businesses, through education sessions on how to boost exports and target new markets and trade promotion activity, including an inward buyer trade mission and a UK Dairy Showcase.

It will also provide specialist resource in priority markets dedicated to supporting dairy exports and market intelligence support to help businesses exploit overseas opportunities.

Minister for Exports Lord Offord will visit dairy exporter Lye Cross Farm in Bristol, where he will launch the programme and hear about their exporting success.

Minster for Exports Lord Offord said:

Growing the agri, food and drink sector is key to growing our economy, and I am delighted to launch the Dairy Export Programme which will help businesses grasp exciting new opportunities around the world.

Last year our dairy exporters sold £2 billion of products to markets worldwide, and the work we are doing to strike up new trade deals will only see that figure rise further and move us forward in the race to £1 trillion of exports by 2030.

The UK dairy industry is among the best in the world and is renowned for being ambitious and innovative, with SMEs making up a large proportion of the sector and exporting over £2 billion of goods a year to over 135 countries.

The Dairy Export Programme will build on strong existing support for the sector from DBT, which this year has included facilitating buyer tastings at Anuga, the key international food and drink trade show in Cologne, a dairy showcase at Foodex in Japan, and supporting dairy companies exhibiting at the Food and Hospitality China trade show in Shanghai.

Food and drink companies also benefit from support through DBT’s Export Support Service, Export Academy, UK Export Finance and a network of International Trade Advisers.

DBT also has more than 100 advisers overseas who are focused on the agriculture, food and drink sector and who work alongside agri-attachés to tackle barriers and boost exports.

AHDB Chief Executive Tim Rycroft said:

International trade remains critical to the sector. Export development is at the heart of what AHDB does, showcasing our high-quality produce at international trade shows and hosting inward missions for key international buyers.

We welcome today’s announcement of additional government support for the dairy sector and will continue to work collaboratively with government and industry to deliver impactful activities and help maximise global opportunities for our levy payers.

It will support our ambition to help increase market access and international sales by championing the reputation of UK products overseas, as well as encouraging more businesses to export.

NFU Dairy Board Chair Michael Oakes said:

The NFU has been working closely with dairy producers, exporters and government through the Dairy Export Taskforce to examine ways to reduce trade barriers for dairy, improve market access and identify new opportunities for growth.

This new £1m programme shows how industry and government collaboration can help drive UK dairy exports, target new markets and bolster our exporting strength. With the global demand for dairy set to rise significantly, the UK should be leading the way when it comes to the trade of safe, high-quality and sustainable UK dairy products.

Peter Dawson, Policy & Sustainability Director Dairy UK and Chair of the Dairy Export Taskforce said:

Exports by dairy processors make a major contribution to the UK economy and there is considerable potential for growth. We welcome the support package announced today and look forward to continuing to work closely with DBT to maximise its benefit for dairy exporters and the dairy supply chain in general.

Notes to editors:

• The Dairy Export Programme was formed in a collaborative consultation between DBT, the Dairy Export Taskforce and the wider UK dairy industry.
• The Dairy Export Taskforce is an industry-led initiative to boost exports. The taskforce includes NFU, Dairy UK, AHDB and dairy businesses. DBT and DEFRA also participate.