ITM catches up exclusively with Tim Reid, Head of Business Group, UK Export Finance to find out the future landscape of international trade for the UK.
Last year, UK Export Finance provided over £7.4 billion in support of exports to 61 countries. Why is it so important for British companies to receive this kind of support?
Not only does this figure demonstrate UKEF’s extensive support provided to UK businesses in the last year but our financing also supported 72,000 UK jobs and added a gross value of £4.3 billion to the economy. This results in more money in people’s pockets and job security for British workers.
There is huge potential for UK businesses to grow their operations and international footprint by exporting their services and expertise, and by becoming a key part of the supply chain for overseas projects: in 2021 alone, trade reached a record of $28.5 trillion.
In many cases, flexibility in access to finance is the final hurdle with contracts in need of guarantees or a requirement for production of goods ahead of payment. This is where UKEF steps in supporting businesses to win export contracts, fulfil contracts and get paid.
In the last five years, UKEF has provided £33.4 billion of support for exporters to facilitate international trade.
You recently announced a £2m export contract with Welsh soft play manufacturer Character Group. Why is it important to support SME businesses as much as big names?
SMEs are at the heart of economic growth. Vitally, they create local jobs – and we have supported companies across the country, from steel manufacturing in Teesside, to a children’s clothing company in South Wales, to offshore wind in Aberdeen. In 2021 alone, 81% of the companies supported with a UKEF product were SMEs – the highest annual figure on record.
One of the biggest challenges for SMEs can be cashflow, which means it’s potentially harder for them to secure and take advantage of export opportunities. UKEF has developed products to overcome this, such as the General Export Facility (GEF), created specifically to help SMEs looking for more flexible access to trade finance. The programme was incredibly successful last year, unlocking almost £250 million of working capital loans.
What unexpected challenges has UKEF faced in the wake of the pandemic and Brexit?
Supply chains are still recovering from pandemic restrictions –and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will have long-lasting economic and geopolitical implications.
UKEF’s mission is to advance prosperity by ensuring no viable UK export fails for lack of finance or insurance, doing that sustainably and at no net cost to the taxpayer.
The Temporary COVID-19 risk Framework (TCRF) has provided £8.2 billion of support to businesses affected by the pandemic since its inception in April 2020.
Read the full interview here.
Media contact
Rebecca Morpeth Spayne,
Editor, International Trade Magazine
Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922
Email: editor@intrademagazine.com
