Department for Business and Trade

The Secretary of State and Ministers regularly engage with institutional investors about opportunities for investment in the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor and the Corridor’s strengths in the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy sectors, including Life Sciences, Advanced Manufacturing, Digital and Tech, Clean Energy and Defence. These discussions support wider efforts to promote the Corridor as a globally competitive location for innovation, growth and high-value business investment. The Office for Investment supports this by securing strategically significant investment projects that drive growth, create high-value jobs and strengthen the UK’s long-term competitiveness.

Some cement businesses currently receive support under the British Industry Supercharger, which provides relief to eligible energy-intensive industries for some electricity policy and network costs. These cement businesses also benefitted from the uplift of the Network Charging Compensation Scheme, an element of the British Industry Supercharger, and now receive 90% compensation for their electricity network charges. The Government understands the pressure of high energy costs and regularly engages with the cement sector’s main trade association, the Mineral Products Association, to understand the sector’s challenges and explore how best to support it.

The Certification Officer has appointed an inspector to investigate the financial affairs of Unite the Union. The inspector's work is continuing and upon its conclusion, the Certification Officer will publish the report on the Certification Officer's website.

By convening an annual Joint Committee, the UK-Faroes FTA provides an effective channel for UK officials from the Department for Business and Trade (in collaboration with other relevant government departments), to review a range of issues with the Faroe Islands. These include animal welfare, which was indeed raised by the UK at the latest Joint Committee, held on 3 June 2026 in London. The Government does and will continue to advocate for the end of all cetacean hunting in the Faroe Islands at every appropriate opportunity.

The Department has not made an estimate of the number of businesses that have stopped trading due to the extended producer responsibility scheme. The Department for Business and Trade is committed to supporting businesses to start, invest, grow and export through a range of measures, including improving access to finance, reducing barriers to trade, promoting investment, and providing practical support through the Business Growth Service and UK Export Finance.

The scheme is led by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and is designed to ensure that producers bear the full net costs of managing household packaging waste, thereby supporting increased recycling and a more circular economy.

As of July 2026, there are 392 Community Interest Companies in receipt of a Bounce Back Loan which have an active objection in place.

The Government is committed to ensuring that small businesses are aware of the Small Business Commissioner’s expanded role and powers. The Commissioner already provides advice, guidance and support through its website, outreach activity and communications channels, and these will be strengthened as new powers are introduced. The Department will work closely with the Commissioner to deliver a comprehensive communications and engagement programme, helping small businesses understand their rights, access support, and benefit from the stronger protections and enforcement measures provided by the Commercial Payments Bill.

HM Government has analysed the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) portfolio for indicators that borrowers received loans which were ineligible under Scheme rules. This included analysing whether businesses were established on or before 1st March 2020 in accordance with BBLS eligibility criteria.

HMG has not analysed companies incorporated before 1^st March 2020 across other Covid Loan Schemes.

In the Industrial Strategy, Government set out an ambition to drive innovation in agriculture. We committed to invest at least £200 million in the Farming Innovation Programme by 2030, with £123 million available for competitions in 2026-27. To date, the programme has supported more than 300 projects, including innovations in fruit crop protection and dairy health in Horsham. Frontier industries are supported through a range of interventions tailored to their specific growth opportunities and barriers, rather than through directly comparable funding allocations. Progress is reported through our Quarterly Updates and recent one-year Industrial Strategy delivery update.

The Department for Business and Trade is working closely with the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (including the Commercial Innovation Hub) to improve public procurement of innovation.

Through the Industrial Strategy and measures announced at Autumn Budget 2025 the government is going further to support innovative UK scale-ups to access public procurement – including through the establishment of an Innovation Marketplace, expanded use of Advance Market Commitments and appointment of Innovation Champions in all departments.

Electronic invoicing, or e-invoicing, will become mandatory for VAT transactions from April 2029. E-invoicing will help business productivity and efficiency, reduce late payments and streamline tax administration.

DBT and HMRC ran a consultation between February and May 2025 to gather views on e-invoicing from a wide range of stakeholders, including small businesses and business representative organisations.

We are now working collaboratively to co-design e-invoicing policy, including with business representative organisations and accountancy and bookkeeping networks who champion small business interests.

The government will publish an Implementation Roadmap at Budget 2026 to update on progress and set out key milestones ahead of the mandate.

The table below presents the two Department for Business and Trade (DBT) Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for which ‘Social Value’ was included in the KPI descriptions within the October–December 2025 KPI Commission period

The Department of Business and Trade has expertise committed to delivering economic growth in the agri-tech sector and helping to deliver the outcomes of the Industrial Strategy.

Under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, businesses are responsible for ensuring that electrical products are safe before being placed on the UK market. The Office for Product Safety and Standards and local authorities take action, including enforcement, to prevent the supply of non-compliant products and remove them from sale, including online.

My Department has recently consulted on reforming the Product Safety Framework so that it works for modern products, risks and supply chains. This included proposals for clear duties on online marketplaces to identify, prevent and remove unsafe products from their sites.

In recent years, UK Export Finance (UKEF) has supported several major infrastructure projects in Turkey, collaborating closely with Turkish contractors. This has enhanced Turkish contractors' awareness of the UK supply chain and has provided a strong base for implementing third-country collaboration between the two countries. UKEF has a Country Head based in Türkiye who can consider appropriate projects for potential UKEF engagement.

UKEF has a reinsurance agreement with Turk Eximbank to strengthen commercial cooperation by co-financing projects in third countries, combining financial support from both the UK and Türkiye to help British and Turkish exporters secure major global contracts.

UKEF is supporting UK and Turkish contractors to deliver deals around the world, including in Ukraine, Iraq, Serbia and Belgium.

UKEF recently co-hosted a project showcase event in London with 10 Turkish engineering, procurement and construction businesses to present global opportunities for the UK supply chain across a range of sectors such as building airports, bridges and rail projects.

In recent years, UK Export Finance (UKEF) has supported several major infrastructure projects in Turkey, collaborating closely with Turkish contractors. This has enhanced Turkish contractors' awareness of the UK supply chain and has provided a strong base for implementing third-country collaboration between the two countries. UKEF has a Country Head based in Türkiye who can consider appropriate projects for potential UKEF engagement.

UKEF has a reinsurance agreement with Turk Eximbank to strengthen commercial cooperation by co-financing projects in third countries, combining financial support from both the UK and Türkiye to help British and Turkish exporters secure major global contracts.

UKEF is supporting UK and Turkish contractors to deliver deals around the world, including in Ukraine, Iraq, Serbia and Belgium.

UKEF recently co-hosted a project showcase event in London with 10 Turkish engineering, procurement and construction businesses to present global opportunities for the UK supply chain across a range of sectors such as building airports, bridges and rail projects.

The Department for Business and Trade has not made a specific estimate of the economic value to UK exporters attributable solely to Türkiye's role as a transit corridor.

Goods take varied trade routes globally, including between the EU and Central Asia and the Middle East. Overland through Türkiye is one, and a number of major airlines passing through Türkiye also carry cargo. The value to the UK of trade flows will vary due to commercial factors at any one time.

The government is taking action to improve the availability of large-scale growth capital available to UK scale-ups. Through a new strategic mandate and reforms to the British Business Bank (BBB), the BBB is increasing support for late-stage businesses, including through larger and faster investments. The government has increased BBB’s financial capacity to £25.6 billion, enabling it to invest both directly and through funds at scale, helping to mobilise private capital and ensuring late stage UK companies can access the finance they need to scale and remain in the UK.

Business Recovery Grants following Storm Babet and Storm Henk were administered by eligible Local Authorities who hold the full application data for their areas.

Local Authorities were reimbursed by DBT for eligible expenditure as detailed below:

FY 24-25:

Storm Babet

Storm Henk

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has been in dialogue with other regulators including the Financial Conduct Authority and Ofgem regarding KPMG’s work in relation to Drax’s biomass sustainability reporting. As KPMG’s work for Drax was undertaken as an advisory review rather than as statutory audit work, this does not fall within the FRC’s statutory audit regulatory remit. The FRC continues to monitor this case and will consider any further relevant information.

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 protects consumers from unfair trading practices and prohibits traders, including estate agents, from omitting (or providing unclear, untimely or obscure) material information to consumers in any ‘invitation to purchase’.

The Act strengthens consumer law enforcement by giving the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) new administrative powers, and the CMA and courts the ability to impose significant monetary penalties of up to 10% of turnover.

The CMA has issued updated guidance on price transparency and unfair commercial practices to help businesses comply.

In addition, since 1 October 2008 all estate agents in the UK who engage in residential estate agency work are required to belong to an approved redress scheme, either the Property Ombudsman or the Property Redress Scheme. This is a requirement of the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007.

The Government is committed to tackling forced labour in UK and global supply chains. The UK has a range of measures in place to combat forced labour, including through the Modern Slavery Act, Procurement Act, Great British Energy Act, and NHS (Procurement, Slavery and Human Trafficking) Regulations. The Immigration and Asylum Bill further strengthens reporting requirements for modern slavery statements, extends obligations to the public sector, and introduces fines for non-compliance.

The Responsible Business Conduct review assessed the effectiveness of the current framework and options to strengthen and modernise it. The Government is considering the review’s findings and will set out its plans in due course.

Some time soon.

At the 8^th Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) in London on 8^th January 2026, the Secretary of State highlighted the UK’s continued commitment to partnership on UK–Türkiye cooperation in third-country markets before opening a separate discussion at a business roundtable to explore further opportunities for cooperation with Turkish counterparts. On his behalf, Sir Chris Bryant also focussed his exchanges with Turkish counterparts and relevant businesses on third-country cooperation (at the Turkish Contractors Association Construction Summit in Ankara) during the minister's most recent visit to Turkey on 16^th June 2026.

On 20 May 2026, the UK introduced a new sanctions package to further target Russian revenues and degrade its ability to wage its illegal war in Ukraine and for the first time processed oil products refined from Russian crude in third countries have been banned. The UK Government published an Impact Assessment alongside the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, available on legislation.gov.uk.

Alongside this, a general trade licence, including for jet fuel processed in third countries from Russian crude, was issued to support a managed and phased implementation of complex restrictions, and to provide targeted, temporary flexibility to safeguard UK energy supply and global market stability.

The Government will continue to review the licence every two weeks. This involves continually assessing its impact on energy supply, market conditions and other relevant considerations, against our objective to revoke the licence as soon as is practicable. As part of this process, we have since set an end date of 1 January 2027.

The Secretary of State will consider each application for a trade licence on a case-by-case basis, with key consideration given to whether the proposed activity is consistent with the purposes of the sanctions as specified in Regulation 4 of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. The Secretary of State must act within the statutory framework Parliament has approved, the licensing power is exercised in a targeted and proportionate way.

The UK remains the only country to have secured a 10% tariff for automotives within quota - saving hundreds of millions of pounds on UK exports annually.

We will continue to engage with the US Administration, and with the UK autos industry, on how we can best deliver for them.

Supporting the sector remains a priority for this Government, and we will keep industry informed to support business planning and future investment decisions.

The UK's landmark economic deal with the US will protect thousands of jobs, support key British industries, and help drive economic growth.

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 introduces new consumer protections for consumers in subscriptions. Once the new regime comes into force, businesses will be required to provide clear information before the consumer signs up, send regular reminders about renewals, and ensure it is straightforward to cancel. This includes allowing online cancellation if the consumer can sign up online. In addition, consumers will have a new 14-day renewal cooling-off period after a trial or a contract of 12 months or more auto-renews.

Government has consulted on regulatory proposals to implement the regime and the response can be found here.

It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to monitor Royal Mail’s compliance with its obligations relating to the secure handling of mail and compliance with the Universal Service Obligation. Ofcom requires Royal Mail, to take steps to minimise the potential for postal packets to be subject to loss, theft, damage and/or interference, and to regularly review, and where necessary update, the relevant policies.

Royal Mail is required to provide compensation to customers on a fair and reasonable basis, where applicable. Ofcom publishes annual reports reviewing the complaints and compensation data. These are available at: www.ofcom.org.uk/post/market-performance/monitoring_reports.

It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to monitor Royal Mail’s compliance with its obligations relating to the secure handling of mail and compliance with the Universal Service Obligation. Ofcom requires Royal Mail, to take steps to minimise the potential for postal packets to be subject to loss, theft, damage and/or interference, and to regularly review, and where necessary update, the relevant policies.

Royal Mail is required to provide compensation to customers on a fair and reasonable basis, where applicable. Ofcom publishes annual reports reviewing the complaints and compensation data. These are available at: www.ofcom.org.uk/post/market-performance/monitoring_reports.

It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to monitor Royal Mail’s compliance with its obligations relating to the secure handling of mail and compliance with the Universal Service Obligation. Ofcom requires Royal Mail, to take steps to minimise the potential for postal packets to be subject to loss, theft, damage and/or interference, and to regularly review, and where necessary update, the relevant policies.

Royal Mail is required to provide compensation to customers on a fair and reasonable basis, where applicable. Ofcom publishes annual reports reviewing the complaints and compensation data. These are available at: www.ofcom.org.uk/post/market-performance/monitoring_reports.

It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to monitor Royal Mail’s compliance with its obligations relating to the secure handling of mail and compliance with the Universal Service Obligation. Ofcom requires Royal Mail, to take steps to minimise the potential for postal packets to be subject to loss, theft, damage and/or interference, and to regularly review, and where necessary update, the relevant policies.

Royal Mail is required to provide compensation to customers on a fair and reasonable basis, where applicable. Ofcom publishes annual reports reviewing the complaints and compensation data. These are available at: www.ofcom.org.uk/post/market-performance/monitoring_reports.

The Department for Business and Trade does not maintain a centrally held list of policies introduced that have been implemented without a published impact assessment.

No. An overview of the purpose of all ministerial meetings, rather than the minutes of meetings is provided as part of the transparency returns on GOV.UK.

Details of meetings held by Ministers of the Department for Business and Trade have been routinely published on the transparency pages of gov.uk since the department’s establishment in February 2023.

Under existing legislation, businesses must only supply safe consumer products. Relevant authorities have powers to require withdrawal of unsafe products from supply and, where appropriate, their recall. The Office for Product Safety and Standards coordinates regulatory activity to ensure online marketplaces prevent and remove any unsafe products from their sites.

The Government recently consulted on proposals to simplify and strengthen the current fragmented enforcement framework. These reforms are intended to create a clearer, more coherent regulatory regime, giving relevant authorities the tools they need to identify and tackle unsafe products across supply chains, including products sold through online marketplaces.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) does not directly employ agency staff.

The Government recognises that a successful Rolls-Royce entry into the single aisle aircraft market could deliver significant UK economic benefits, including high value jobs and growth across the aerospace supply chain.

Rolls-Royce is a major UK employer and longstanding Government partner. We are discussing how any support could secure UK jobs, skills and long-term manufacturing, while delivering value for money for taxpayers. Building on the Aerospace Technology Institute Programme, which has anchored world leading R&D in the UK and strengthened the domestic supply chain, any future support would be structured to maximise UK benefits.

UK product safety law is clear: all products must be safe, including those sold online. My Department’s Office for Product Safety and Standards takes action to address non-compliant products online, including monitoring marketplaces, test purchasing and taking appropriate enforcement action.

In addition, Government recently consulted on reforming the product safety framework to ensure it works for modern supply chains and addresses new risks. This included proposals for clear duties on online marketplaces to take proactive steps to identify, prevent and remove unsafe products from their sites. We are now considering feedback and will set out our response in due course.

Under competition law, responsibility for investigating the impact of mergers and acquisitions on competition falls to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the UK’s independent competition authority. The government has ensured that the CMA has significant powers and expertise to investigate the benefits and risks of mergers in relation to competition.

In some cases Ministers can intervene on public interest grounds, but these are limited to matters relating to financial stability, media plurality and public health emergencies.

The Government is committed to protecting workers from Non-Disclosure Agreement misuse. The Employment Rights Act 2025 includes a measure that void NDAs in cases of workplace harassment and discrimination.

We recently consulted on the measure and are currently analysing responses. A Government response will be issued in due course.

With regards to overseas franchises of UK schools, they must abide by the domestic laws of the host country.

The Government is committed to protecting workers from Non-Disclosure Agreement misuse. The Employment Rights Act 2025 includes a measure that void NDAs in cases of workplace harassment and discrimination.

We recently consulted on the measure and are currently analysing responses. A Government response will be issued in due course.

With regards to overseas franchises of UK schools, they must abide by the domestic laws of the host country.

As I told the House and the Business and Trade Select Committee, we are actively considering a ban on trade with and from the illegal settlements, but we have not commissioned such research.

Goods originating from illegal Israeli settlements are not entitled to tariff preferences under the UK–Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement. To ensure goods were not produced in any non-eligible settlement, HMRC requires importers claiming preference to make a legal declaration stating the goods’ origin. Where HMRC is not satisfied that the requirements are met, preferential tariff is denied and proportionate compliance action is taken (warning letters first, followed by monetary civil penalties).

HMRC takes an intelligence-led approach to verify the origin of goods but does not provide specific details regarding checks, as it may serve to undermine enforcement and compliance activities.

The UK Government also encourages accurate labelling of goods to avoid misleading consumers and promote transparency.

We take very seriously any allegations of UK military equipment ending up in Sudan in breach of the UK arms embargo. However, after extensive assessment, we have found no evidence of UK weapons or ammunition being used in Sudan.

We keep all our licensing decisions under close review, and we reviewed over 3,000 current and historic licences in recent months, considering any destinations where there are allegations of diversion to Sudan. We have not found any that required suspension or revocation.

Between 2021-2025, there were 29 refusals for Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) for the UAE, the majority of which were under Criteria 7 of the UK’s Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, which considers risk of diversion.

The existing Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) Code on time off for trade union duties and activities (“the Code”) has been updated to reflect the changes made by the Employment Rights Act 2025 to the statutory framework on the rights to time off and the provision of facilities for trade union representatives.

The draft Code was laid before Parliament on 6 July 2026. Subject to completion of the parliamentary procedures, the intention is that it will be brought into effect alongside the changes to the statutory framework in October 2026.