Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps his Department has taken to improve awareness among businesses in the East Midlands of (a) exporting opportunities and (b) government support for exporting.

On the 14^th November the Department for International Trade (DIT) launched a public beta of the new GREAT.gov.uk platform to improve the awareness of exporting opportunities and government support available to businesses. This coincided with the launch of ‘Exporting is GREAT’ marketing activity that drives businesses to the new platform. GREAT.gov.uk aims to inspire UK businesses to export, provide more tailored support and advice online, build on peer to peer networks and connect UK supply with global demand through the promotion of real-time export opportunities. To complement this digital platform, DIT provides a range of face to face support to businesses in the East Midlands through market and sector events, exporting essential workshops and face to face meetings with International Trade Advisers (ITAs). Over the last two months support across the East Midlands has included :

• A Masterclass in Intellectual Property Rights in Nottinghamshire.
• A Rail Meet the Buyer event in Derbyshire.
• A Digital Trade advice clinic in Leicestershire.
• An event on a Re-opening of the Iranian Market with Northamptonshire Chamber in Northampton.
• A Food & Drink Business Growth Expo with the Leicestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) in Leicestershire.
• An Exporting Is It For You? Workshop in Lincolnshire.
• One to one meetings for businesses with experts from the British Chamber in Mexico held in Derbyshire