Please find below the International Trade Bulletin from the Department for International Trade. This includes:
Government Business Support
Businesses facing disruption due to the spread of the virus can visit the dedicated business support hub for up to date details of relevant schemes and financial support.
Financial Support for International Trade
The department’s export credit agency, UK Export Finance (UKEF), works with banks and insurance brokers to help companies of all sizes fulfil and get paid for export contracts. It provides guarantees, loans and insurance on behalf of the Government that can protect UK exporters facing delayed payments or transit restrictions.
They have expanded the scope of their Export Insurance Policy (EXIP) meaning UK businesses will now be eligible to secure export insurance cover to all major markets.
Funding Opportunities Available to Tackle Covid-19
There are a number of schemes looking for innovative ideas to help in the fight against Covid-19. This list has been pulled together by Innovate UK. For details see here.
Help Wanted: Business Support for Testing
The Government is seeking help from UK businesses to increase its testing capacity for coronavirus (COVID-19). They are looking for support from manufacturers and suppliers of consumables and equipment for coronavirus (COVID-19) testing, as well as for antigens and antibodies testing. Please register offers of support here.
HMRC: Free Business Webinars and Video
HMRC is delivering a series of free webinars on the support available to businesses affected by coronavirus (COVID-19). Recordings of the webinars are available online and businesses can register for future webinars here.
Ongoing Support from the Department for International Trade
The department’s global network is working closely with governments around the world to provide support for UK businesses facing challenges due to coronavirus. If you are experiencing difficulties in international trade, we are here to help and we remain available to you, although we’re working remotely following guidelines. We are also aware that many of you are helping support other businesses and your communities. If you want to shout about it or there is anything we can do to help in this regard, please make contact.
You can either contact your International Trade Adviser directly where you have an existing relationship, or get in touch with the East Midlands team on 0345 052 4001 or email: info@tradeEM.co.uk
Webinar Programme 22nd – 27th April 2020
(In)solvency: What every owner-manager ought to know (but nobody tells you) 23rd April 2020
D2N2 Growth Hub
Richard Parsons, BGP Counsellor and Founder/ CEO of Stratifi and Paul Addison, Director of Haines-Watts, will be providing insights into all things related to Insolvency. For details see here.
Managing with empathy and vision for the future post-crisis
Introduction to Selling for Non-Sales People - 23rd April 2020
D2N2 Growth Hub
The webinar will cover: Gain rapport fast using verbal and non-verbal communication either on the telephone or face to face; Knowing your outcome and how to approach the discussion; Powerful questions to help you and your client become clear on the right solution; Objections and questions – how to answer them to help the sales process keep moving; and Getting people to commit. For details see here.
Social Media Strategy - 23rd April 2020
BT Skills for Tomorrow
For small business owners and aspiring social media marketers who want to find out about how businesses use social media. Discover how social media can help your business grow, how to build a social media strategy, best practice, and how to measure success. For details see here.
Digital Marketing Strategy - 23rd April 2020
BT Skills for Tomorrow
Learn how to develop, implement and track a digital marketing strategy. For details see here.
Furlough, Redundancy and Restructure - 23rd April 2020
Festival of Enterprise
This webinar will cover: The Furlough and other workforce challenges created by the current lockdown. How businesses can consider redundancy and restructuring for the future and answer your questions on The Furlough. For details see here
Coronavirus. 11 Simple Steps to survive and thrive in business - 23rd April 2020
South East Midlands LEP Growth Hub
This practical workshop is designed for business owners to prepare themselves and their businesses to not just survive, but thrive through these unprecedented times. Whatever your business plans were for 2020, the game has changed, your customers’ needs and behaviours have changed and you’ll likely need to reset with a new and very different plan. For details see here.
Podcasting – How to Make it Part of Your Brand’s Marketing Strategy - 23rd April 2020
Festival of Enterprise
This webinar will cover: How to launch your own podcast as part of you marketing strategy, and why YOU SHOULD! Tips and advice on works and what doesn’t work and answering your questions about podcasts. For details see here
Innovating using Test & Learn Principles to Navigate Uncertain Times - 24th April 2020
BT Skills for Tomorrow
A webinar providing real world experience and learnings from BT Enterprise’s Strategy and Innovation team on how they have used test and learn principles to run experiments which help better uncover and assess new opportunities, and reduce uncertainty around investment decisions. For details see here
Champagne Marketing on a Lemonade Budget - 24th April 2020
D2N2 Growth Hub
An introduction to marketing and techniques to deliver campaigns on a low budget but still get high impact with your target clients. It will cover why you should use marketing, learn who is your target client and the importance of having a marketing strategy & measuring ROI. You will learn how to develop your Value Proposition, have an overview of marketing channels and examples and discover which is the best channel for you and your clients. For details see here
Using Microsoft Teams to Enable Effective Remote Working - 27th April 2020
D2N2 Growth Hub
We’ll be sharing the full scope of Microsoft Teams and how to ensure your employees are supported with everything they need, as well as revealing some hidden gems within the platform. For details see here
Negotiating with your customer - 27th April 2020
D2N2 Growth Hub
The webinar will cover: Gain rapport fast using verbal and non-verbal communication either on the telephone or face to face; Knowing your outcome and how to approach the discussion; Powerful questions to help you and your client become clear on the right solution; Objections and questions – how to answer them to help the sales process keep moving; and Getting people to commit. For details see here