Unlocking Growth with UK Export Finance
SPONSORED ADVERTORIAL
Even for the most resilient business, venturing into international markets can be as challenging as it is rewarding. Getting the finance you need to meet overseas demand can be challenging at the best of times, and even trickier if you are a small business. But UK Export Finance can help you achieve your export ambitions.
Working with London based companies, we hear about the issues that are being faced to access finance, and we are keen to reassure businesses that they don’ t need to tackle these challenges alone.
We are therefore delighted to be able to explain a little around how we can support UK companies, because you do not need to make your export journey alone.
As the UK’ s export credit agency, we help UK companies:
• win export contracts, providing attractive financing terms to buyers
• fulfil contracts by supporting working capital and trade finance
• get paid by insuring against buyer default.
We complement the private sector, supporting trade working-capital facilities with government-backed guarantees and providing singlerisk credit insurance in several international markets. Working alongside the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, we help businesses realise their growth potential.
Our support can help UK companies make the most of global opportunities, with specialist support for exporters and favourable financing for buyers both available.
Nor is this a one-size-fits-all approach. Bearing in mind that financing needs develop as rapidly as the markets in which businesses operate, we continually review our offer so that it best serves the needs of UK exporters.
In the last several years, for example, we introduced the General Export Facility and Export Development Guarantee which allow UK businesses to access working capital and trade finance without the need for a specific export contract. We have also introduced the Small Export Builder, a credit risk insurance policy which enables UK exporters to gradually increase credit to their overseas buyers.
Our commitment to championing UK exporters means that we provided over £ 11 billion of support to exporters of all sizes in 2025-2026. We exist for businesses of all sizes and have been working hard to offer flexible, accessible financing solutions for small and medium enterprises; in the financial year 2025-26, 66 % of the companies we supported were SMEs.
In a world where renewables already account for nearly half of global electricity-generation capacity, we also aim to put UK business at the heart of the global transition towards renewable energy. For instance, we can offer extended repayment terms on our EDG facility to green-economy exporters.
Overall, we have provided more than £ 7 billion of support for green and sustainable projects since 2019, and we have no intention of slowing down. Whatever the economic climate, you don’ t need to navigate your export finance challenges alone.
Our Export Finance Managers, based in 29 regions across the UK, can help your business find the right export finance solutions to compete in a rapidly evolving marketplace.
Along with our Export Finance Manager colleagues, we work closely with locally-based bank representatives, industry bodies and other businesses to provide free and impartial support on export finance and the solutions that UKEF can provide. We can help you understand your options and access the right support so that no viable export fails for lack of finance.
We’ ve been there to help UK businesses reach new markets since 1919, and we will continue helping SMEs to access the resources they need to unlock new opportunities abroad.
Hitesh Patel, UKEF Export Finance Manager, Central and West London
Keisha Silvera, UKEF Export Finance Manager, North East and South West London
Colin Hawes, UKEF Export Finance Manager, City and East London
https:// www. ukexportfinance. gov. uk / product-brochure /
The UK Export Finance Product Brochure contains a more detailed overview of the products that UKEF offers.