top of page
TVCA logo_edited.jpg

 

Guidance Note
 

UKSPF – Export Support Programme
 

Overview
 

The Export grant programme is a £300K grant scheme that forms part of the UKSPF support for business. The programmes primary objectives are:
 

  • Increasing the number of Tees-Valley businesses involved in export activities

  • Increasing the amount/range of exporting carried out by existing Tees-Valley based exporters


Revenue grants of between £3,000 – £10,000 are available. Businesses are required to fund 25% of the total project cost themselves (this is called match funding)
 

It is anticipated that there will be multiple funding rounds between now and March 2026. However, we reserve the right to close the programme early should the initial rounds use all the available funds.
 

Applicant Eligibility
 

The scheme will only be available to businesses with a trading address in the Tees Valley. Businesses will need to have been customer trading for a minimum of 12 months.
 

Businesses must have a demonstrable existing interest in exporting. For those businesses not already exporting, examples of how this interest might be evidenced include participation in the DBT Export Academy course, meaningful previous engagement with DBT representatives, or completion of initial export research (relevant to the business/sector).
 

Project Eligibility
 

Export projects that are completed by the end of March 2026 will be eligible for the grant.
 

Eligible Activity
 

Revenue projects designed to help a business start exporting or diversify/increase its current export activity. Examples of eligible projects include:

​

  • Attending trade events and/or purchase of trade stand equipment

  • Adapting websites and /or marketing materials for audiences abroad

  • Fees for export-related consultancy or legal advice

  • Buying or carrying our market research

​

The above list is not exhaustive.
 

Ineligible activity

  • Capital expenditure

  • Routine revenue costs

  • Food/subsistence costs (on trips)

  • Salary/employment costs

  • Production/operational costs including product development

  • Costs relating to the transport or logistics of exporting goods, e.g. insurance, warehousing

  • Activities that support general business processes rather than development of international markets

  • Recoverable VAT

  • Projects/purchases that have already taken place

  • Projects that won't be completed before the end of March 2026

 

​

Assessment Process


We will carry out an initial screening of all applicants to ensure they meet the applicant and project eligibility criteria given in this guidance. Applications passing this check will then be passed to an appraisal team who will review the application. This will include an assessment of:

 

  • Project deliverability – the ability of applicants to deliver in full within the timeframe specified

  • Impact – the degree to which all outputs and outcomes are likely to be achieved

  • Value for money – the delivery of outputs and outcomes at reasonable cost

  • Experience – demonstrable experience of delivering similar programmes/projects, where appropriate to the programme.


Applications and appraisers' assessments will be presented to an independent decision panel of internal and external experts.


Timescales


Milestone


Date


Application Process Open (Round 1)


8th September 2025


Application Submission Deadling (Round 1)


13th September 2025


Notification of Outcome (Round 1)


Early November 2025


Application Process Open (Round 2)


13th October 2025


Application Submission Deadline (Round 2)


17th November 2025


Notifcation of Outcome (Round 2)


Early December 2025


Form Guidance


This section provides specific guidance on questions in the application form. Guidance has not been included for questions that have been deemed to be self-explanatory.


Section 1: Applicant information


Trading Start Date


The date the business started trading with its customers


Section 2: Project Information


What countries do you currently export to?


If you have not yet started exporting, please leave blank.


What identified export opportunity/issues does this project relate to?


What is the exporting issue or opportunity that your project is trying to address/respond to.


How/Why has the opportunity or issue been identified?


Here we are looking for evidence (Data/reports/research) that supports or gives background to your previous answer.


Please give a specific goal/target for your project


Projects should have a clear measurable aim, e.g. increase in export sales to France by 5%


Please give information about the existing levels of activity you will be measuring your achievement against.


Anything is possible 4


Here we are looking for information/data to evidence the baseline data you will be measuring your project progress against. If you are not currently exporting, it’s acceptable to put that the existing level of activity is zero.


Total amount of grant / Total estimated cost (%)


This field auto-populates from your previous answers. An error message will appear if the grant you are asking for exceeds 75% of the project cost you have entered.


Outline what steps you will take to ensure best value


Answers should explain what efforts will be taken to keep project costs reasonable and ensure that any services provided are at a competitive price.


What would happen if you did not receive grant funding? Explain your answer


Answers should explain what other funding means have been explored and why a grant is considered the best means of financing the project.


Tell us about any key risks to the project and how they will be mitigated.


We are looking for reassurance that you understand any risks and challenges facing your project and have considered mitigations.


Tell us how the project will be managed on a day-to-day basis and by whom: include reference to the project monitoring and evaluation requirements.


We are looking for reassurance that the necessary processes/staffing resource is in place to keep the Combined Authority up to date on project progress and spend.


Please give examples of similar project activity your organisation has carried out previously

We are looking for confirmation that your group can be relied upon to deliver the project/study effectively and on time. Previous experience cited does not need to relate to sector mobilisation/feasibility study projects.

bottom of page