Meet the Experts in West Yorkshire

Chamber International

Chamber International enables UK businesses to import and export globally with excellence, maximising their compliance, efficiency, flexibility and profitability.

Our team of in-house specialists is second to none. Our extensive network of international partners such as bi-national chambers, business groups and carefully selected independent firms of consultants spans the globe and includes the world’s most dynamic and challenging markets.

Chamber International offers several services

• A health-checkopens eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com in a new tab for businesses' customs activities bringing them up to full compliance with HMRC requirements.
• Strategic trade-mission opportunitiesopens eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com in a new tab, helping exporters and importers meet face-to-face
• We trainopens eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com in a new tab more than 600 people every year in practical aspects of importing and exporting.
• Provision of customs clearance servicesopens eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com in a new tab, getting goods in and out of the UK for clients in all sectors and lead on trade procedures, rules of origin and relationship management.
• We check documentary letters of creditopens eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com in a new tab worth hundreds of millions of pounds, ensuring sellers get paid on time and in full.
• We can certify, legalise, notarise and arrange Foreign and Commonwealth Office apostillesopens eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com in a new tab, including Certificates of Originopens eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com in a new tab, EUR1 Movement Certificatesopens eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com in a new tab and International Import Certificatesopens eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com in a new tab.
• We help save businesses from paying unnecessary taxes and duties, including on temporary exports of equipment, using ATA Carnetsopens eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com in a new tab.

Chamber International works with small, emerging, and mid-sized businesses, through to multi-nationals.

We participate in several international, national and regional forums including a sub-group of the British Chambers Board with responsibility for international trade and forums held by the World Trade Organisation in Geneva, and world-leading Assurance, Testing, Inspection and Certification (ATIC) service provider, Intertek.

Department for Business and Trade

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is responsible for promoting British trade across the world and ensuring the UK takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us. We encourage and support businesses to export and help to identify key opportunities for their business, removing access barriers along the way.

In West Yorkshire we have locally based dedicated International Trade and e-Commerce advisers who support businesses with impartial advice. All our advisers have a commercial background and understand the challenges businesses are facing and are passionate about opening new growth opportunities.

By working with us you will have access to business opportunities, exclusive trade missions, local seminars and meet-the-buyer opportunities which help businesses like yours to develop their export capabilities. Our team can also help you navigate the latest opportunities opening as result of Free Trade Agreements which are negotiated by DBT. Alongside this, our teams based in countries across the world are here for export-ready SMEs, heling with market research and sector specific guidance.

On top of all that UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK’s export credit agency gives access to export finance, the class of loans, insurance policies or bank guarantees that enable international trade to take place as easily and securely as possible.

We also have a network of local Export Champions which is a group of experienced exporters and business owners who have made a commitment to helping other companies do the same by sharing their advice and expertise.

Innovate UK Business Growth

Innovate UK Business Growth offers tailored support that accelerates the growth of ambitious innovation-focused businesses. Our innovation and growth specialists nationwide with local specialists on hand in West Yorkshire are supporting clients to make the best strategic choices and access the right resources to grow and scale.

Innovate UK Business Growth’s ambition is to empower scalable, innovation-led businesses across all sectors and stages of growth, —from early development to expansion, —by working closely with leadership teams to unlock their potential.

Since 2015, we have helped clients succeed nationally and internationally through expert guidance, access to essential resources, and opportunities that strengthen their capabilities and accelerate progress.

We work closely with innovation-focused businesses across the UK that are seeking to unlock growth through innovation. Our support is designed to help ambitious companies strengthen their commercial potential across four key strategic areas:

1. Exploiting innovation – Supporting businesses to protect their intellectual property, refine innovation strategies, and access the resources needed to turn ideas into market-ready solutions.
2. Sourcing funding – Helping companies to identify and secure appropriate finance, grants, and investment to accelerate growth and become investment ready.
3. Entering new markets – Connecting businesses to partners and leveraging insights to expand into vertical and international markets, including through the Global Business Innovation Programme (GBIPs) and through access to the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), the world’s largest business collaboration network.
4. Scaling up – Working with high-potential businesses through the Innovate UK Scaleup Programme to realise their ambitions and achieve sustained growth.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority

We are working together for a brighter West Yorkshire. We want to make our region the best place to live, to work, to learn, to start a business and raise a family. Alongside the five West Yorkshire local authorities - Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield – we work in partnership to deliver services and investments that directly benefit the people in our region.

The West Yorkshire Local Growth Plan is setting out our approach to deliver growth for the region over the next 10 years. Priority One is unlocking growth in key sectors like Advanced Manufacturing, Digital & Creative, Financial & Professional Services, Health & Life Sciences and Green Economy. A focused approach on sector strengths and emerging clusters will maximise opportunities by targeting action to boost innovation, attract investment, unlock capital, drive international activity and support businesses to access new markets.

We provide businesses with access to a wide range of local and national support and funding. From start-ups to established businesses, we make it easy for small and medium-sized business owners to access the help needed to boost productivity, profitability and resilience.

Business owners can connect with a local Growth Manager to discuss where their business is now and what they would like to achieve in the future. Collaborating with our partner councils, Growth Managers find tailored solutions.

We offer the West Yorkshire Business Boost: Export programme which gives businesses access to an export diagnostic, providing a detailed assessment of your needs and has dedicated Export Managers who will facilitate the development and implementation of comprehensive and achievable Export Action Plans. The programme also includes workshops and masterclasses, alongside grants of up to £2,000 to help fund 50% of consultancy or trade show-related activities to enable the delivery of export action plans (subject to eligibility criteria).