Exporting Horizons: Opening event
Learn from exporters, overcome barriers and unlock global growth.
Join the flagship opening event of International Trade Week (ITW) 2026 on Monday 9 November at the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester. Delivered by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST)opens www.gov.uk in a new tab and sponsored by Santander UKopens www.santander.co.uk in a new tab, the event will bring together expert advice, exporter insights and valuable connections to help UK businesses grow internationally with confidence.
What you can expect
Designed around the needs of ambitious UK businesses, this practical, interactive event will bring specialist support and valuable connections.
Tailor your day around the topics most relevant to your business and gain direct access to expert advice, real-world exporter insights and valuable support networks. Explore the event programme below.
Horizons | Scope the opportunity
Hear where global opportunity is heading, how demand is changing and what AI, technology and economic trends could mean for future competitiveness. The main stage will feature keynote insight, conversations on international growth, innovation-focused sessions and an audience-led future growth debate.
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Take Off | Meet your peers
Go behind the scenes of real export journeys. Through focused 20-minute presentations and Q&A sessions, businesses will share the decisions, challenges, support and breakthroughs behind finding opportunities, reaching overseas customers and making international deals work.
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Growth Lab | Solve challenges
Bring your questions to Business Growth Advisers and the wider export and growth support network. Whether your challenge relates to markets, finance, innovation, capability or scaling, you can receive an initial steer, connect with relevant specialists and identify the right route for further support.
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Business Lounge | Build connections
Meet other businesses, advisers and support organisations in a welcoming networking and navigation hub. Continue conversations from across the event, discover what is happening next and build connections that could help move your international ambitions forward.
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Make your Move | Commit to action
Turn inspiration into a tangible next step. Add one specific and realistic commitment to the Export Action Wall, connect it to the people or support that can help and leave the event ready to act.
Find out more opens www.events.great.gov.uk in a new tabStay ahead of the competition
See the opportunity. Learn from exporters. Solve challenges. Build connections. Take action.
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