By Geoffrey de Mowbray

It’s inevitable that taxes, spending and economic forecasts will dominate the Autumn Budget debate.

Listen to this article

But Britain’s economic prospects also depend on how much its businesses can sell overseas. An export order can keep a factory busy, pay for another employee or give a company the confidence to invest, bringing money into the country and supporting jobs and wages at home.

Many UK organisations are still willing to export, but it can feel like the barriers are rising. Among businesses with turnover of at least £500,000, the proportion that had ever exported fell from 45% in 2021 to 35% in 2025, according to a government survey.

In more than 20 years doing business internationally, I have seen how extraordinary British capabilities are, but I’ve also witnessed the opportunities lost when suppliers, finance providers and government can’t get everything organised in time.

Britain already has much of what it needs. This Budget should focus on getting those businesses and institutions to work together. That does not necessarily mean spending billions more - but there are five key measures I’d like to see introduced for exporters in this Budget.

Help British businesses compete together

Export Delivery Partners should be central to this effort. Essentially, these are private organisations that can bring together manufacturers, service providers, financiers, insurers, logistics companies and overseas buyers to organise and deliver complete contracts.

For instance, a major project might need equipment from five British SMEs, alongside design, training and maintenance. Each supplier could be excellent at its own job, but might lack the resources or expertise to tender for the whole contract alone.

This is where a delivery partner could step in,........

© LBC