Powering global success for entrepreneurs and their scaling businesses

The UK offers a world-class environment where scale-ups can thrive. Discover how the Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP) works and what we look for.

What is the Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP)?

The GEP is the UK goverment's highly selective programme for ambitious international scaleups looking to establish a UK headquarters or R&D presence and use the UK as a launchpad for global expansion.

The GEP combines dealmaker-led strategic mentorship with dedicated support from the GEP team, who guide entrepreneurs through onboarding, visa processes and UK market integration. Together, they provide founders with expert insight, tailored opportunities and practical support to help founders and their scaling businesses to successfully enter the UK market and continue to grow.

For 2 decades, the GEP has been a cornerstone of the UK’s innovation and growth strategy. As a flagship initiative within the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the GEP has attracted over 1,400 internationally mobile entrepreneurs, with more than 400 establishing their global headquarters in the UK in the last 5 years alone.

Through tailored support from our GEP dealmakers, strategic connections, and access to UK trade opportunities, GEP companies have raised over £2.5 billion in equity investment and created more than 10,000 high-value jobs.

Reasons to choose the UK

Reasons to choose the UK include:

• the ability to raise capital fast through one of Europe’s most active funding ecosystems and strong investor networks
• a welcoming, pro‑business environment that supports international founders to enter the UK market and scale further
• a global launchpad, with strong connectivity and a tech‑forward market ideal for rapid expansion
• a world‑class talent and R&D hub, offering leading universities, deep research capability and a highly skilled workforce – powered by rising tertiary education levels and long-term government investment in skills, including £1.2 billion annually until 2028 to 2029

The GEP attracts ambitious entrepreneurs and supports innovative, internationally scaling businesses to grow from a UK base.

GEP Global Scale-Up Gateway
London Tech Week - 9 June 2026, Scale Space, London

For London Tech Week (LTW) 2026, the GEP will host an exclusive, invite only scale-up event designed for 60 high-growth international founders, who are actively planning UK expansion within the next 12- 18 months.

Why you should attend

The Global Scale‑Up Gateway will connect founders with curated 1‑2‑1 sessions with key UK tech enablers and GEP Dealmakers who will provide practical insights into setting up and navigating the UK tech landscape.

Alongside this, a fireside chat with a UK Minister grounded in real entrepreneurial experience will focus on why the UK is a serious platform for global scale-ups covering access to capital, customers, talent, regulation and long‑term government partnership.

Practical, founder‑led, this event is designed to give you confidence and clarity on scaling from the UK, not just entering the market.

Attendance is limited to 60 founders, selected through Department for Business and Trade screening.