As part of an ambitious package of recommendations to support small business to start and scale in the UK, the business group says an urgent boost to SME export capacity now is vital to ensure home-grown small firms can build much-needed resilience and compete in a global marketplace.
Launched during International trade Week, the proposals include launching a ‘Small Business Export Champions’ initiative, inspired by successful international examples such as Australia’s TradeStart network, to provide targeted communications training, digital support, and peer mentoring.
It’s also calling for the UK Tradeshow Access Programme to be reinstated, to give small businesses access to powerful global opportunities like Expo West in California or CES in Las Vegas.
Aaron Asadi, CEO of Enterprise Nation said: ” The upcoming Budget is a prime opportunity to position SME exporters at the heart of our nation’s trade strategy. According to Santander’s Trade Barometer, of businesses already trading internationally, 59% report improved performance over the past year compared to just 46% of those which do business solely in the UK. So, we know exporting is a fundamental ingredient of sustainable economic resilience1, which is why we urgently need a comprehensive export support strategy now that is both visible and action-driven.
“Countries like Australia have demonstrated how targeted support can transform SME export success. Their TradeStart network has helped thousands of businesses access international markets. The UK needs similar bold initiatives to grow its competitive edge. By adopting a supportive approach and leveraging proven international models, we can unlock significant growth opportunities and create a more inclusive export environment that benefits all.”
The group says a coherent national campaign together with a unified digital export platform would simplify access to export support and documentation and share best practice. It also suggests the government ensures UK Export Finance has the resources it needs to reach its target.
Enterprise Nation’s Budget Submission letter also makes the case for more broad support for the small business community across five key areas: markets, finance, technology, space and talent.
Access to markets
- Make sure UK Export Finance is sufficiently resourced to meet its target of supporting 1,000 SMEs per year by 202Extend the deemed reseller regime to all marketplace sellers to close VAT fraud and level the playing field.
- Champion small business exports through visible leadership and co-ordinated promotion.
- Reinstate and modernise a UK Tradeshow Access Programme to trigger exporting among a greater number of small businesses.
Access to technology
- Mandate e-invoicing for UK businesses, phased from VAT-registered B2B.
- Deliver CTO-as-a-Service to unlock digital adoption across UK SMEs.
- Offer targeted tax incentives to support businesses with the cost of adopting AI and technology.
Access to finance
- Expand Making Tax Digital to include companies with a yearly turnover of less than £20,000.
- Raise the VAT registration threshold to £100,000 in Great Britain, with tailored arrangements for Northern Ireland. Raise the UK’s trading allowance to £3,000 to unlock low-barrier entrepreneurship.
Access to talent
- Make unspent funds from the Growth and Skills Levy automatically flow to small businesses by default.
- Improve support programmes to help older workers move from unemployment into self-employment.
- Introduce targeted tax incentives to support small business with upskilling.
- Embed enterprise education across the curriculum to build a more innovative, work-ready cohort.
Access to space
- Introduce a commercial conversion charge to rebalance tax incentives.
- Empower local authorities to tailor business rates reliefs and exemptions.
- Commission a national support programme to make high-street rental auctions work for small businesses.
