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Export assessment
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Discover your company's full export potential and gain free support services to grow your business
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Export assessment
Are you ready to export?
Complete an export assessment to explore your full export potential. Discover which of our free support services are appropriate for your business to help it grow and prosper.
Find out if your if company could successfully export its products or services and determine how ready your are to export and grow your business.
You'll receive a tailored report outlining the next steps that your business needs to take to tap into new international markets.
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Smart Exporter skills programme
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Free or subsidised services for companies and individuals based in Scotland, looking to expand their exporting knowledge
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Smart Exporter skills programme
Smart Exporter is an ambitious international trade programme designed to increase exporting skills and knowledge among Scottish businesses.
This initiative is delivered by Scottish Development International (SDI) funded through the European Social Fund (ESF).
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Smart Exporter roadshows
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Are you ready to export? Find out about opportunities and learn how to get started
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Smart Exporter roadshows
Smart Exporter roadshows give you the chance to hear from Scottish companies that are already exporting and enjoy an introduction to the exporting opportunities that exist for companies like yours in Scotland.
We’ll also outline all the free export support services we can offer to help your company start exporting successfully.
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Know your market events
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Get to know your overseas market with tips and advice on doing business in other countries
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Know your market events
Identifying and understanding new markets are a key part of a successful exporting strategy.
Our know your market events introduce you to new markets and help you identify opportunities for your business.
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Documents needed to export
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Find out about legal documents needed to export, customs duties and taxes, documentary letter of credit, payments and contracts
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Documents needed to export
Our factsheets will give you a brief overview of some legal document terms used in international trade.
Gain a better understanding of these documents to better prepare yourself for exporting:
- Customs, duties and taxes
- Documentary letters of credit
- Intermediary agreements
- International sales contracts
- Payment methods
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Preparing to export online
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Our step-by-step guide will refresh your thinking about exporting and help you identify the next steps to take
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Preparing to export online
Smart Exporter’s online preparing to export programme will ensure that your business is prepared for exporting.
Our online programme is aimed at businesses new to exporting or those looking for a refresher on how to expand their business into new markets.
The step-by-step guide will help you develop key skills and knowledge needed for international trade across a number of training modules.
You can work through these modules in your time and at your pace to uncover the next steps your business needs to take to go global.
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Six modules cover key topics and factors to consider when preparing to export:
- Research and identify your market
- Overseas pricing and finance
- Distribution channels
- Trading and contractual terms
- Internet marketing and social media
- Marketing and promotion
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Digital marketing training
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Learn how to create an online global marketplace and use social media to engage with international customers
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Digital marketing training
SDI has partnered with leading online company HubSpot, to provide a 18-part Inbound Marketing University (IMU) course which takes you through the key principles and practices of online marketing including:
- Email marketing
- Search engine optimization
- Blogging
- Twitter
- Online PR
Whether your new to exporting, currently exporting or exploring new markets, you can access our free digital and social marketing course to help build sustained and meaningful relationships with international customers, wherever they are.
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"SDI was keen to ensure that the tools and resources we developed for exporters delivered the most advanced and up-to-date knowledge.
"The partnership with HubSpot's Inbound Marketing University allows companies to attend an accredited digital marketing course online for free, learning from leading industry experts."
– David Smith, Innovation and Enterprise Services Director at Scottish Enterprise
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Preparing to export
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Find out how to build the skills and knowledge you need to export
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Preparing to export
Preparation is the key to successful exporting. There are many things to consider before your company enters new markets and preparing properly can help achieve the results you want.
Whatever your current level of expertise our preparing to export service can help develop the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to grow your company by exporting.
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Preparing to export: Introduction
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New to exporting? Fast-track your exporting skills and knowledge of international market research, finance, contracts and logistics
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Preparing to export: Introduction
If your company is considering exporting for the first time then it is vital to make sure you have prepare correctly.
Our introductory level preparing to export programme helps new exporters to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to start exporting successfully.
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"The Smart exporter course was a useful and practical introduction to preparing our company for first international sales. The course leaders were knowledgeable and facilitated insightful discussion among the group."
– Sarah Byrne, LUX Assure
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Preparing to export: Develop your skills
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Exporting to two or three markets? Expand your expertise to grow your export business
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Preparing to export: Develop your skills
To successfully enter new markets it is important that your company is well prepared.
Our Preparing to export: Develop your skills service helps companies with some experience of exporting to develop and expand their knowledge and skills.
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Advice on language and culture
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Learn how to tailor your key messages to an international audience
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Advice on language and culture
Communications and marketing collateral are an important part of your company’s export strategy.
UK Trade and Industry (UKTI) provide an Export Communications Review that can provide help and advice on language and cultural issues surrounding export communications.
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In-house training
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Hire an in-house consultant to help your team with its international trade plans
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In-house training
Even companies with a developed export strategy can face challenges. Exporting can be a complex task and often specialist experience can help your company’s management team through the process.
In-house training delivered by a specialist consultant can help improve specific areas of your export strategy and overcome the challenges of international trade.
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Overseas market support
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Comprehensive market research and in-market support service to help you fully exploit overseas market opportunities
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Overseas market support
Your company can receive tailored support that will help you identify export opportunities, carry out market research and establish business relationships overseas.
With the full support of our in-country advisers we can help you access market research services offered through our partners at UK Trade and Investment's (UKTI) and Enterprise Europe Scotland (EES).
Our comprehensive overseas market support service will help you explore opportunities worldwide to their fullest.
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“SDI staff in South Korea gave me a local slant, explaining cultural differences in things like approaches to contracts”
– Wilma Finlay, Managing Director of Cream O' Galloway
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Overseas market report
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Get a snapshot of local market and sector opportunities from our in-country experts
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Overseas market report
Getting the inside track on new markets is an important part of successful exporting.
You can access the knowledge and expertise that your company needs to successfully export through UK Trade and Investment’s (UKTI) Overseas Market Introduction service.
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Events
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Visit potential markets and explore partnering opportunities
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Events
Our export events can help Scottish companies develop an understanding of new markets and make the connections needed to export successfully.
Our support can help Scottish companies attend both overseas exhibitions and UK exhibitions that are aimed at international audiences. These are valuable marketing opportunities and a chance to meet potential business partners, overseas buyers and agents or distributors.
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“We’ve picked up importers and new business in the States and we’ve also been able to research our competitors and look at similar products overseas”
– Tony Stone, Managing Director of Stoats Porridge Bars
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International trade guides
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Trade guides at your fingertips offering in-depth insights to support your international growth plans
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International trade guides
Our online international trade guides offer a deeper insight into a range of topics to support your international growth plans:
- Strategic alliances and joint ventures
- Managing intellectual property, licensing and franchising
- Market entry strategies and distribution channel selection
- Setting up and managing an overseas base
- International marketing communications
- Currency and foreign exchange management
Register now for free access to these guides
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Preparing for international growth
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Experienced exporters can learn how to overcome more complex business challenges to prepare for global investment and expansion
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Preparing for international growth
If you're a more experienced exporter, our preparing for international growth advanced programme is the ideal way to enhance and develop your skills and knowledge to gain a competitive advantage.
It will help you explore new opportunities and overcome more complex business challenges to maximise international growth.
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Funding for an export manager
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Get funding for an export manager to support your export strategy
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Funding for an export manager
To successfully export you may need to access specific skills and knowledge that are not available within your existing management team.
We can help by providing funding for an export manager who will fill those gaps and support the delivery of your company's export and international trade strategy.
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Export and trade advisory service
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Expert tips and advice from our experienced international growth advisers
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Export and trade advisory service
We can offer companies like yours the chance to benefit from specific advice on an area of your export strategy.
Our export advisory service can be provided on a one-off basis or as part of our wider work with your export and international trade strategy.
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Export and trade strategy forum
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Learn the importance of international strategies with tips from industry experts
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Export and trade strategy forum
Before your company starts to export it is important to ensure that you have an export strategy in place. This will help identify the opportunities and risks involved and can ensure the success of your company’s entry into new markets.
To help you get the most from your export strategy we offer export and international trade strategy forums that give you the chance to hear from exporters and explore the issues involved in planning your strategy.
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Export and trade strategy workshop
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Identify opportunities, anticipate risks and build an international trade strategy that fits your business plan
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Export and trade strategy workshop
Sometimes even companies with experience of exporting can lack a clear strategy. Our export and international trade strategy workshops can help you develop a successful export strategy and plan the best way to put it into action.
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Strategy development training
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Intensive support programme to find and test best routes to global trade, from first steps to market expansion
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Strategy development training
Our strategy development training has been designed to help companies accelerate their international growth.
The training helps develop a detailed export and international trade strategy and builds the skills and knowledge necessary to put that strategy into action.
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“Scottish Development International helped us identify, research and visit new markets, and provided a credit checking facility for new customers"
– Chris Millar, Managing Director of Harviestoun Brewery
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TalentScotland Graduate Placement
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Access the skills and knowledge of Scotland’s finest graduates to help deliver a specific export project
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TalentScotland Graduate Placement
TalentScotland is Scotland’s talent attraction programme, promoting Scotland as an excellent place to live, work and study.
The TalentScotland Graduate Placement Programme gives companies like yours the chance to access some of Scotland’s finest graduates to deliver a critical piece of work.
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GlobalScot
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A worldwide network of Scottish business professionals providing local tips and practical advice to help you break into new markets
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GlobalScot
Scotland has a global support network that offers free help and advice to Scottish companies.
GlobalScot is a worldwide network of Scots or people with an affinity to Scotland. The network is a perfect source of advice, assistance and support to businesses that are planning to export.
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Support to attend trade shows
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Showcase your company products and services to an international audience
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Support to attend trade shows
Attending international trade shows is an excellent way of growing your export business.
We can help Scottish companies attend these shows as part of the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) Trade Access Programme (TAP).
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Trade missions
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Funded trade missions to key overseas markets to help you find distributors, agents and potential new partners
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Trade missions
Trade missions and international exhibitions are a great way to test international markets and can help companies develop a successful export strategy.
We can help you find the funding and support you need to attend trade missions than can open new markets and opportunities for your company.
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Global development projects
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Explore aid agency funded development project opportunities around the world with UKTI support
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Global development projects
Global development projects offer opportunities for your company to win contracts funded by international aid agencies and create sustainable assets in developing countries.
Global organisations spend $60 billion every year on aid funded projects.
We can help Scottish companies access global project opportunities through the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) Aid Funded Business service.
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European business opportunities
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Free information, advice and expertise to help you explore business oppportunities in Europe
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European business opportunities
Enterprise Europe Scotland (EES) gives Scottish companies a free source of information, advice and expertise on doing business in Europe.
Scotland’s exports to Europe total £9.6 billion. EES can help your company to find collaborative partners, identify business opportunities and increase competitiveness in Europe.
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Project and contract opportunities
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Get help to win overseas projects and contracts from key public and private sector organisations
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Project and contract opportunities
We can help your company access overseas projects and contracts from key organisations, companies and governments.
With our support and the help of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) your company can win contracts, implement a strategy for high-value international trade projects and access a global network of business contracts.
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Global sports projects
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Opportunities in global sports projects and support to put you in touch with key decision-makers
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Global sports projects
Global sports events provide Scottish companies with a highly competitive but very valuable market.
UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) can provide guidance for Scottish companies looking to realise the potential of the global sports events market and help you access the key decision makers.
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Setting up overseas
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In-market development support and fully serviced offices for hire worldwide
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Setting up overseas
Successful exporting can depend on having the right office in the right place.
With access to a global network of high quality office accomodation and business facilities, we can help Scottish companies find the right location to set up operations overseas.
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US market development support
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Fully serviced offices for rent in the USA in Boston, Houston and San Jose
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US market development support
We have a network of offices available for lease in three US cities that offer Scottish companies a great opportunity to set up in lucrative international markets.
Available for short term leases and less expensive than private rentals our US offices are an excellent way for companies like yours to quickly enter US markets.
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Free meeting facilities
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Scottish companies can access free meeting and conference facilities at Scotland House in Brussels
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Free meeting facilities
Scottish companies can access free conference and meeting room facilities in Scotland House in Brussels.
The Scotland House facilities offer the chance to to do business in a modern location at the very heart of Europe.
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Discounted international office space
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Worldwide offices for hire: virtual and furnished offices, meeting and training facilities, drop-in services
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Discounted international office space
We work with managed office giants Regus to provide Scottish companies with discounted work space in locations around the world.
This includes 1100 business centres in 500 cities, covering 85 countries.
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TalentScotland
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TalentScotland can help your company identify talent and skills from around the world to help your business grow
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TalentScotland
TalentScotland promotes Scotland as a place to live and work, attracting skilled professionals to some of Scotland's most important industry sectors.
With TalentScotland's support your company can access a growing talent pool of people equipped with the skills need to help Scottish-based companies to grow.
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