UK: The Railway Industry Association has called on the Department for International Trade to continue assisting small businesses with attending overseas industry events, following the cancellation of the Tradeshow Access Programme which provides grants to SMEs exhibiting at trade fairs including InnoTrans, AusRail and Trako.
RIA says the grants are essential for achieving the Rail Sector Deal target of doubling exports to £1·6bn by 2025.
‘For UK rail, the scheme has been vital’, said RIA Exports Director Neil Walker on July 21. ‘One rail supplier reported a 1 200% growth in their business following an exhibition they visited after receiving a TAP grant in March 2020. Another said they had seen £50m in revenue generated in the Middle East, with the TAP grants contributing directly.
‘Several companies have told RIA they would not have attended certain exhibitions without the support TAP provided.
‘So we urge the government to continue supporting SMEs across the UK, both in rail and in other industries, in reinstating the TAP scheme or introducing an equivalent programme to support exporters.’
