UK Trade & Investment is the Government organisation that both supports companies in the UK trading internationally and overseas enterprises seeking to locate in the UK.

UK Trade & Investment operates through a global network with offices in British Embassies overseas, in our HQ in London and Glasgow and in the 9 English regions.

ENGLAND, UK Trade and Investment operates as the international trade arm of the nine Regional Development Agencies. UK Trade & Investment provides advice and services to business through a network of locally based International Trade Teams. Businesses in England looking for advice on international trade and access to UK Trade & Investment services should contact their nearest International Trade Team. SCOTLAND, WALES and NORTHERN IRELAND have their own international trade development organisations providing advice to business and services (including access to UK Trade & Investment services).

For information about UK Trade & Investment offices around the world please see the relevant country page on the website. For an insight into how we can help potential and established exporters, please see the relevant sector or services pages.

In general we offer you:

• advice and support - International trade can be tough, especially when you’re just getting started. There’s a lot to learn and a lot at stake, so it pays to have high quality advice and support.
• preparing to trade - Your local International Trade Adviser can help you to assess your firm’s needs and plan for sustainable success in your chosen market. We can also advise you on the linguistic and cultural challenges of operating overseas. 
• support to succeed - Our highly regarded Passport to Export programme combines many of our services in a cost-effective package for new and inexperienced exporters.
• information and opportunities - UK Trade & Investment’s national and international network can help you gather intelligence on target markets and overseas business opportunities:
  
  a) opportunities - Sales leads are the lifeblood of any business, which is why our staff overseas are always looking for business opportunities in your chosen markets.
  b) aid-funded business service - The team liases on your behalf with all the main international aid-funding agencies.
  c) market and sector research - Our staff in British consulates and embassies around the world can undertake bespoke research into potential markets for your goods and services. You could also conduct research of your own - we show you where to start.
  
  
• making it happen - To be a successful exporter you need to spend time in your markets and build lasting commercial relationships with your clients and partners.
• market entry - UK Trade & Investment helps groups of UK companies attend major international trade shows and take part in British overseas trade missions.
• marketing support - The New Products from Britain service has now closed. If you are seeking commercial publicity in an overseas market, some of our overseas posts may be able to help using the Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS) service.