Department for Business and Trade

The Office for Responsible Business Conduct promotes the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct and provides a non-judicial grievance mechanism for complaints of non-observance by UK businesses. The government also launched a review, through the Trade Strategy, of the UK’s approach to responsible business conduct, focusing on tackling human rights and labour abuses and environmental harms in global supply chains, including those in the fashion industry.

While concerns have been raised about unfair practices, there are currently no plans to introduce a Fashion Watchdog. However, other measures are being considered as part of the responsible business conduct review. We will update the House once the review is complete.

The Government is undertaking the fourth statutory review into the effectiveness of the GCA, and covers the period from 31 March 2022 – 1 April 2025. The review sought input on the GCA’s effectiveness in enforcing the Code, its role alongside the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator and potential unfair practices outside its current remit. The Government is currently analysing responses and other publicly available evidence covering the review period. The review report will be published as soon as practicable.

The Government is undertaking the fourth statutory review into the effectiveness of the GCA, and covers the period from 31 March 2022 - 1 April 2025. The review sought input on the GCA's effectiveness in enforcing the Code, its role alongside the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator and potential unfair practices outside its current remit. The Government is currently analysing responses and other publicly available evidence covering the review period. The review report will be published as soon as practicable.

The Office for Responsible Business Conduct promotes the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct and provides a non-judicial grievance mechanism for complaints of non-observance by UK businesses. The government also launched a review, through the Trade Strategy, of the UK's approach to responsible business conduct, which is focussed on tackling human rights, labour abuses and environmental harms in global supply chains, including those in the fashion industry. We will update the House once the review is complete.

We have already announced measures to tackle late payments through additional reporting requirements for large firms and launched a new Fair Payment Code which aims to boost cash flow for small businesses, crucial for their survival, by tackling late payments and lengthy payment terms that can lead to financial strain and failure.

Statistics on foreign owned businesses are published separately by each of the devolved nations. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5 and cover registered businesses only.

Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency:

Northern Ireland Business: Activity, Size, Location, and Ownership 2025 | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

• around 5 Chinese owned businesses in Northern Ireland in 2025

Scottish Government:

Businesses in Scotland: 2025 - gov.scot

• around 15 Chinese owned businesses in Scotland in 2025

Welsh Government:

Ad-hoc statistical requests: 3 to 14 November 2025 | GOV.WALES

• around 10 Chinese owned businesses in Wales in 2024

There are no statistics published for Chinese owned business in England.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes statistics for the UK which show that in 2022 there were 349 Chinese-owned businesses in the UK.

Inward foreign affiliates statistics, UK, 2018 to 2022 - Office for National Statistics

The ONS statistics are compiled from a different source and are not comparable to the statistics published by the devolved nations.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has not made a formal assessment on the net departure of business owners from the UK in the past two years.

Through the Industrial Strategy and Plan for SMEs, the government is backing entrepreneurs to start, scale and stay in the UK. DBT continues to focus on its core mission of supporting businesses to invest, grow and export, helping to ensure the UK remains an attractive destination for business activity.

DBT provides a range of services for UK firms - including business support, access to finance, investment facilitation, and export assistance - aimed at helping companies manage rising costs, expand markets, and navigate economic uncertainty.

We are undertaking detailed analysis to assess the potential impact of any closure of the Strait of Hormuz on British businesses. We are monitoring the situation closely and working across government to safeguard UK economic resilience. We have an export support team that businesses can reach out to for support on disrupted trade or supply chains. We continue to analyse the potential impact of increased energy prices however this is not a question of security of supply, and we are confident that we have multiple and sufficient sources of supply.

The DBT Longitudinal Small Business Survey[1] reports that 45 percent of SME employers offer training to their employees. The Department does not hold specific information on dedicated budgets for training.

[1] Small Business Survey 2024: businesses with employees - GOV.UK

All businesses must comply with relevant laws and employers must comply with their legal obligations to ensure that their workforce receive the rights and protections to which they are entitled.

Evri, and other parcel delivery operators, are independent businesses and the government does not have a role in their operational decisions.

Ofcom, the independent regulator for postal services, does not regulate the employment or remuneration models of Evri or other parcel delivery companies.

Ministers have regular discussions with Ofcom in its capacity as the independent regulator for the postal sector with the responsibility and powers to regulate postal services.

The government wants to see all operators provide a good level of service, including during peak seasons. However, parcel delivery companies are independent businesses, and the government has no role in their operational decisions.

Ministers have regular discussions with Ofcom in its capacity as the independent regulator for the postal sector with the responsibility and powers to regulate postal services. The government does not have a role in Ofcom’s regulatory decisions.

Following market developments, Ofcom are gathering evidence of operator’s compliance levels with their applicable Consumer Protection Conditions.

Ofcom is the independent regulator for the postal sector. The government does not have a role in Ofcom’s regulatory decisions.

Ofcom last reviewed postal regulation in 2022 and considered extending the requirement on Royal Mail to publish complaints handling reports to the wider parcels sector. It concluded the market, then, was working well.

Following recent market developments, Ofcom is gathering evidence of operator’s compliance levels with their applicable Consumer Protection Conditions.

The UK Government has, for the first time, chosen to put Professional and Business Services at the heart of our modern industrial policy, with consultancy as one of its key Frontier Sectors driving future growth.

The Department supports small consultancy businesses through a range of measures designed to improve capability, competitiveness and access to opportunities. Smaller consultancies benefit from improved access to government procurement and initiatives that encourage investment in digital, AI and innovation, helping them develop new services and grow sustainably. The government has pledged to cut regulatory administrative costs by 25% - a move designed to unlock growth, boost innovation and reduce burdens on businesses across key sectors.

In addition, SMEs can access tailored advice via the Business Growth Service, local Growth Hubs, the Help to Grow: Management scheme, and finance through the British Business Bank, strengthening their leadership, skills and long-term resilience.

The Government recognises that too many small businesses have been held back from achieving growth and reaching their full potential in recent years. That is why we published our Plan for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses. The Plan contains over 200 targeted actions which will make a real difference to the day-to-day trading operations of small businesses, supporting them to grow and reduce costs. This includes reducing regulatory admin costs by 25%, tackling late payments, modernising the tax and customs system and launching a new Business Growth Service, all of which will save businesses time and money.

The Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act is a temporary measure to ensure that critical steel facilities remain operational. The Government keeps BSL's financial position under constant review to protect taxpayers' interests while ensuring continuity of safe and responsible operations. BSL continues trading commercially and Government officials are continuing to provide on-site support in Scunthorpe monitoring, reviewing and scrutinising the use of taxpayer funds with robust financial governance in place.

Employee-owned businesses are a significant part of the UK economy, with 2,470 EOBs in the UK as of June 2025, employing over 335,000 people.

DBT, as part of the Autumn Budget announcements, launched a Call for Evidence on Business Support for Co-operatives and Mutuals, which closed on the 18th February. DBT is now analysing responses and these will inform any potential business support policies to support the growth of the sector.

The government is committed to supporting the growth of the mutuals sector in line with the manifesto commitment to double the size of the sector. To deliver this, the Chancellor announced a multi-year programme of measures at Mansion House 2024 which government is now delivering.

The five meetings of the Stamp Advisory Committee which were attended by an official from the Department for Business and Trade took place, respectively, on 21 November 2024; 23 January 2025; 10 July 2025; 11 September 2025; and 20 November 2025.

Additionally, an official from the Department attended a Committee meeting on 22 January 2026.

The Government aims to strike the right balance between transparency and privacy, ensuring the Companies House register does not become a tool for abuse. Any individual can therefore apply to protect their residential address in most cases where it appears on the public register. No evidence of being at risk of harm is required.

HMG is working closely with EY, who are providing onsite management support, to review British Steel’s forecasts and ensure that any funding requests are robust. HMG and EY work closely with British Steel management on scenario planning to ensure that the company can respond effectively to unexpected financial pressures. Contingency provisions have been built into forecasts throughout the intervention to address potential risks, including lower sales receipts, fluctuations in production levels, and urgent capital investment needs. At present, the intervention is funded from existing budgets which are considered sufficient to manage any such pressures.

The £375 million capital allocation for British Steel Limited is recoverable as a debt owed to the Crown. The sole stipulation for this funding is that it must be used strictly for the purposes established in the legislation. Recoverability of this debt will be further assessed at year-end and the resulting treatment will be reflected and published in the Department for Business and Trade's accounts for 2025-26.

The £375m is intended for British Steel Limited, a private limited company limited by shares incorporated in the United Kingdom under the Companies Act 2006 and registered in England and Wales with company number 12303256.

The £375 million capital allocation for British Steel Limited is recoverable as a debt owed to the Crown. The sole stipulation for this funding is that it must be used strictly for the purposes established in the legislation. Recoverability of this debt will be further assessed at year-end and the resulting treatment will be reflected and published in the Department for Business and Trade's accounts for 2025-26.

The £375m is intended for British Steel Limited, a private limited company limited by shares incorporated in the United Kingdom under the Companies Act 2006 and registered in England and Wales with company number 12303256.

Government Departments are required to apply at least 10% weighting to Social Value in tender evaluations, in line with the Social Value Model. Additionally, procurement regulations require that for all contracts worth more than £5 million, departments report and publish four Key Performance Indicators, including at least one relating to Social Value.

The Social Value events delivered for UK Export Finance by Alexander Mann Solutions aimed to educate participants in the delivery of Social Value commitments and Government requirements.

The event delivered in that quarter covered 'Wellbeing in the Workplace'.

Negotiations with the Republic of Korea on an upgraded Free Trade Agreement (FTA) have concluded and both sides are preparing for signature later this year. FTA negotiations continue with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Switzerland, Turkey and Greenland. Discussions on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD) also continue.

In addition, the UK is engaged in Costa Rica and Uruguay's Accession Working Groups, as part of their accession process to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The Department for Business and Trade does not provide centrally administered grant funding, specifically for the development of commercial and business skills for SMEs.

Help to Grow: Management (HTG:M) is a UK-wide leadership and management programme for SME leaders. The programme is 90% government‑subsidised, with a participant contribution of £750.

Responsibility for business skills funding is devolved to local government, with commercial and business skills courses delivered through Growth Hubs funded directly through Mayoral Combined Authorities and local councils.

Businesses are encouraged to use the business.gov.uk website to identify relevant local support, including skills and business development funding in their area.

The Call for Evidence (CfE) was open across Great Britain for 12 weeks and closed on 18th February. DBT’s focus is now on analysing responses and these will inform any potential business support policy for the co-operative and mutual businesses.

The Department is supporting UK meat producers to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal. This week, the first agri‑food trade mission visited the United States, accompanied by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; it provided UK meat producers with direct engagement with a wide range of businesses and opportunities across the US meat sector. The Department will continue to support further market engagement throughout the year, working closely with partners including the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and the National Farmers' Union (NFU).

The Department is supporting UK meat producers to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal. This week, the first agri food trade mission visited the United States, accompanied by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; it provided UK meat producers with direct engagement with a wide range of businesses and opportunities across the US meat sector. The Department will continue to support further market engagement throughout the year, working closely with partners including the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and the National Farmers' Union (NFU).

When a consumer purchases a product, the contract is with the seller, not the delivery company. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the seller is responsible for delivery of goods bought online until they are in the consumer's possession. This removes the burden of the consumer having to raise the issue with both the delivery company and the retailer. My department currently has no plans to review this process.

Details of the meetings held by Ministers of the Department for Business and Trade are available on transparency pages of gov.uk and are released as part of the Government's transparency agenda.

We are delighted that as of January 1, 2026, UK farmers can, for the first time, make use of an exclusive 13,000 tonne quota for export to the United States. What the government has agreed with the US does not impact on our ability to negotiate trade agreements with other trading partners.

Choosing between the US and Europe is a false choice. The UK can and must do both - improve our trading relationship with Europe while agreeing deals with the US and other nations.

All businesses awarded MEGS funding were required to submit an application prior to approval which detailed the proposed activity to be delivered if the application was approved - that proposed activity was then assessed to ensure it satisfied the scheme eligibility criteria, specifically that the activity promoted the act outside of the UK.

All successful businesses are issued a Grant Agreement to confirm the activity that the MEGS funds can be spent on. Once the business signs that Agreement, MEGS funding is then available but can only be claimed by the business after the activity has taken place and evidence is provided to demonstrate that the activity has taken place and been paid for in full.

Both the British Phongraphic Industry and the Department for Business and Trade complete checks on the evidence supplied to confirm that the activity has been completed in line with the Grant Agreement and not for other purposes before any funds are paid to the business.

Steel is strategically important to the UK’s industrial base, the delivery of the Industrial Strategy and the maintenance of critical infrastructure. In April 2025, the Government we intervened introduced the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act to avoid the premature and disorderly closure of the blast furnaces at British Steel and ensure uninterrupted steel production. The Act is a temporary measure to ensure that critical steel facilities remain operational. The passing of the Act, and use in relation to British Steel, does not itself establish any sort of precedent in UK company law. We continue to work with Jingye, the owner, to find a pragmatic and realistic solution to the future of British Steel.

The published impact assessment for the Special Measures Act considered the potential impact on the wider business community. It highlighted the exceptional nature of the intervention, which should limit any wider effect on investment. To date, DBT has provided approximately £370 million to British Steel, of this, £57 million (15%) was used for payroll costs, £104 million (28%) for other operational expenses, and £209 million (57%) for raw material purchases. This will be reflected in the Department for Business and Trade’s accounts for 2025-26.

The Government keeps British Steel’s financial position under constant review to protect taxpayers’ interests while ensuring continuity of safe and responsible operations. British Steel continues trading commercially and Government officials continue to provide on-site support in Scunthorpe monitoring, reviewing and scrutinising the use of taxpayer funds with robust financial governance in place.

Steel is strategically important to the UK’s industrial base, the delivery of the Industrial Strategy and the maintenance of critical infrastructure. In April 2025, the Government we intervened introduced the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act to avoid the premature and disorderly closure of the blast furnaces at British Steel and ensure uninterrupted steel production. The Act is a temporary measure to ensure that critical steel facilities remain operational. The passing of the Act, and use in relation to British Steel, does not itself establish any sort of precedent in UK company law. We continue to work with Jingye, the owner, to find a pragmatic and realistic solution to the future of British Steel.

The published impact assessment for the Special Measures Act considered the potential impact on the wider business community. It highlighted the exceptional nature of the intervention, which should limit any wider effect on investment. To date, DBT has provided approximately £370 million to British Steel, of this, £57 million (15%) was used for payroll costs, £104 million (28%) for other operational expenses, and £209 million (57%) for raw material purchases. This will be reflected in the Department for Business and Trade’s accounts for 2025-26.

The Government keeps British Steel’s financial position under constant review to protect taxpayers’ interests while ensuring continuity of safe and responsible operations. British Steel continues trading commercially and Government officials continue to provide on-site support in Scunthorpe monitoring, reviewing and scrutinising the use of taxpayer funds with robust financial governance in place.

Steel is strategically important to the UK’s industrial base, the delivery of the Industrial Strategy and the maintenance of critical infrastructure. In April 2025, the Government we intervened introduced the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act to avoid the premature and disorderly closure of the blast furnaces at British Steel and ensure uninterrupted steel production. The Act is a temporary measure to ensure that critical steel facilities remain operational. The passing of the Act, and use in relation to British Steel, does not itself establish any sort of precedent in UK company law. We continue to work with Jingye, the owner, to find a pragmatic and realistic solution to the future of British Steel.

The published impact assessment for the Special Measures Act considered the potential impact on the wider business community. It highlighted the exceptional nature of the intervention, which should limit any wider effect on investment. To date, DBT has provided approximately £370 million to British Steel, of this, £57 million (15%) was used for payroll costs, £104 million (28%) for other operational expenses, and £209 million (57%) for raw material purchases. This will be reflected in the Department for Business and Trade’s accounts for 2025-26.

The Government keeps British Steel’s financial position under constant review to protect taxpayers’ interests while ensuring continuity of safe and responsible operations. British Steel continues trading commercially and Government officials continue to provide on-site support in Scunthorpe monitoring, reviewing and scrutinising the use of taxpayer funds with robust financial governance in place.

Steel is strategically important to the UK’s industrial base, the delivery of the Industrial Strategy and the maintenance of critical infrastructure. In April 2025, the Government we intervened introduced the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act to avoid the premature and disorderly closure of the blast furnaces at British Steel and ensure uninterrupted steel production. The Act is a temporary measure to ensure that critical steel facilities remain operational. The passing of the Act, and use in relation to British Steel, does not itself establish any sort of precedent in UK company law. We continue to work with Jingye, the owner, to find a pragmatic and realistic solution to the future of British Steel.

The published impact assessment for the Special Measures Act considered the potential impact on the wider business community. It highlighted the exceptional nature of the intervention, which should limit any wider effect on investment. To date, DBT has provided approximately £370 million to British Steel, of this, £57 million (15%) was used for payroll costs, £104 million (28%) for other operational expenses, and £209 million (57%) for raw material purchases. This will be reflected in the Department for Business and Trade’s accounts for 2025-26.

The Government keeps British Steel’s financial position under constant review to protect taxpayers’ interests while ensuring continuity of safe and responsible operations. British Steel continues trading commercially and Government officials continue to provide on-site support in Scunthorpe monitoring, reviewing and scrutinising the use of taxpayer funds with robust financial governance in place.

Steel is strategically important to the UK’s industrial base, the delivery of the Industrial Strategy and the maintenance of critical infrastructure. In April 2025, the Government we intervened introduced the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act to avoid the premature and disorderly closure of the blast furnaces at British Steel and ensure uninterrupted steel production. The Act is a temporary measure to ensure that critical steel facilities remain operational. The passing of the Act, and use in relation to British Steel, does not itself establish any sort of precedent in UK company law. We continue to work with Jingye, the owner, to find a pragmatic and realistic solution to the future of British Steel.

The published impact assessment for the Special Measures Act considered the potential impact on the wider business community. It highlighted the exceptional nature of the intervention, which should limit any wider effect on investment. To date, DBT has provided approximately £370 million to British Steel, of this, £57 million (15%) was used for payroll costs, £104 million (28%) for other operational expenses, and £209 million (57%) for raw material purchases. This will be reflected in the Department for Business and Trade’s accounts for 2025-26.

The Government keeps British Steel’s financial position under constant review to protect taxpayers’ interests while ensuring continuity of safe and responsible operations. British Steel continues trading commercially and Government officials continue to provide on-site support in Scunthorpe monitoring, reviewing and scrutinising the use of taxpayer funds with robust financial governance in place.

UK-based music small and medium-sized enterprises can apply for Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS) funding. Information on MEGS is available on the 'Find a Grant' service on Gov/UK. My department's MEGS delivery partner the BPI has a dedicated section on its website and shares details of MEGS funding rounds on its social media channels. When MEGS funding rounds open, my department shares information on how to apply for the scheme with its regional teams across England and Department for Business and Trade offices in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The BPI shares information on new MEGS funding rounds with UK music trade bodies, arts organisations, with the music press and direct to some music companies.

The figure referenced in the press release was supplied by the BPI and is based on analysis of commercial outcomes reported by MEGS recipients in previous funding rounds. This is an industry estimate produced by the BPI and reflects their assessment of the scheme's impact on participating businesses. The estimate is based on industry held commercial data and is not used as an official Government economic metric.

In the latest round of Music Export Growth Scheme awards announced on 2 March, one Essex-based act, 'Essosa', received grant funding.

The UK Government's Creative Industries Sector Plan, published in June 2025, set out creative industries trade and investment priorities for the period up to 2035 and announced an up to £30 million Music Growth Package which will include export support. My department continues to hold discussions with the UK music sector about targeted export support that will best enable UK music businesses to grow internationally.

The list of acts that received grant awards in the latest funding round of the Music Export Growth Scheme announced on 2 March 2026, were as follows:

Amber Run, anaiis, And Also The Trees, Andrew Cushin, Antony Szmierek, As It Is, Asta Hiroki, Aurora Orchestra, bar italia, Bear's Den, Beth McCarthy, BIG SPECIAL, Black Country, New Road, Black Josh & Lee Scott, Cage Fight, Canned Pineapple, Cassyette, Chalk, Chartreuse, Chloe Slater, Common Saints, DANIEL AVERY, Dark Tropics, Daytime TV, Dry Cleaning, Eleni Drake, Elles Bailey, Erotic Secrets of Pompeii, Essosa, EYNKA, Finn Forster, Gaynor O'Flynn, Girl In The Year Above, Halina Rice, Hana Lili, Harriet, Jalen Ngonda, King Jammy, LASTELLE, Leifur James, Maiah Wynne, Matilda Mann, MEGA, Mica Millar, Modern Woman, Naomi Scott, Nightbus, Nina Nesbitt, NOVELIST, Panic Shack, PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING, PVA, Qendresa, Samm Henshaw, Seb Lowe, SOTA, Stornoway, Summer Pearl and Zola Marcelle, The Cinelli Brothers, The Molotovs, The New Eves, The Snuts, The Wellermen, Tropic Gold, Ulrika Spacek, Wes Nelson, Will Samson, Witch Fever

For commercial reasons, we do not disclose individual MEGS grant awards. In this funding round, individual grant awards ranged from £5,000 to £50,000.

The Board meets monthly to review cases that are presented to them, if there are no such cases the meetings are cancelled, as was the case in February 2026. Additional meetings beyond the monthly meetings are scheduled where necessary to review exceptionally urgent cases.

The Industrial Development Advisory Board last met on 13 January 2026.

Minutes of the meetings of the Industrial Development Advisory Board are not published. The discussions of the Board and the advice they provide to the Secretary of State with respect to the exercise of their functions under sections 7 and 8 of the Industrial Development Act encompass highly commercially sensitive information.