The Department for International Trade is not doing enough to address the challenges that small businesses face when they export. Out of an estimated 5.9 million businesses in the UK, the Department focuses its bespoke support on around 230,000 which has been almost identical for many years, with a turnover of over £500,000 and directs businesses below this threshold to digital services on its website. Levels of satisfaction with the Department’s digital services are low (under half of the De...

The Department for International Trade is not doing enough to address the challenges that small businesses face when they export. Out of an estimated 5.9 million businesses in the UK, the Department focuses its bespoke support on around 230,000 which has been almost identical for many years, with a turnover of over £500,000 and directs businesses below this threshold to digital services on its website. Levels of satisfaction with the Department’s digital services are low (under half of the Department’s clients report that services to help them identify export opportunities are good at meeting their needs) and use of these services is declinin Type: recommendation | Number: 4 | Response status: under_consideration Government response: 2021. The department will use the annual update to keep the Committee informed of the success of the Fund with evidence from the monitoring and evaluation process.