Grow your creative-industries business through international sales
The UK’s creative industries are renowned worldwide for their exceptional quality, innovation and value for money. There is huge global demand for the nation’s creative industries products and services.
New free-trade agreements, and the Government’s international promotion of the UK’s creative offer, are opening doors for UK companies around the world. The Department for International Trade (DIT) offers a wide range of free support to help your business take advantage of new global opportunities.
Export support for UK creative-industries companies
Does your company operate in a content-focused sector such as television, film, music, publishing, video games or immersive technology? Does it provide services such as advertising, architecture, design, crafts, events and attractions, performing arts or the experience economy? Is it in the fashion industry? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, DIT can help your business grow through international sales. For example, the department can help you to:
- Build capability to export through the Export Academy (England only), https://www.great.gov.uk/campaigns/export-academy
- Access one-to-one advice about exporting to Europe, https://www.gov.uk/ask-export-support-team
- Find out about market opportunities via sector-specific webinars, events and videos
- Build an export plan tailored to your business/product
- Get finance and insurance for your exports
Grant Support
UK creative businesses can access grant support through the schemes outlined below:
Internationalisation Fund (England only)
https://www.great.gov.uk/campaigns/internationalisation-fund-for-english-businesses
UK Trade Fair Programme,
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-tradeshow-programme
Music Export Growth Scheme,
https://www.bpi.co.uk/news-analysis/music-export-growth-scheme
International Showcase Fund,
Four Nations International Fund,
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/our-open-funds/four-nations-international-fund
International Collaboration Grants,
https://www.britishcouncil.org/arts/international-collaboration-grants
Export Licensing
The Export Licensing Unit in Arts Council England issues individual export licences on behalf of the Secretary of State for Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) for certain cultural goods that reach or exceed specific age and monetary value thresholds whether on a permanent or temporary basis.
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/export-controls/export-licensing#section
Intellectual Property Protection
You should consider getting IP protection if you want to trade overseas or sell to overseas customers via the internet. Start by developing an international strategy, identifying your markets, business goals and resources and by accessing the government’s international network of IP attachés.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/international-ip-service
Contact us for expert advice
You can get sector-specific export support from DIT’s team of creative-industries specialists, who have worked in the sector and are well qualified to give expert advice.
If you would like to speak to a specialist, or you have a question about how DIT can help you sell overseas, please email the team at dit-creative@trade.gov.uk.
