The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has raised concerns that Britain’s smallest exporters are being “left behind” as larger firms benefit from new trade agreements. The BCC is urging the government to take immediate action to help smaller businesses expand internationally.
According to the BCC’s latest Quarterly Trade Confidence Report, only 16% of micro exporters—companies with fewer than ten employees—reported growth in international sales during the third quarter of this year. In contrast, 42% of larger exporters saw an increase in exports over the same period, highlighting a “deeply concerning” divide.
The findings, based on a survey of 4,600 UK businesses conducted between 18 August and 15 September, reveal that smaller firms are struggling to capitalise on the government’s recent trade agreements, including those with India, the United States, and the European Union.
William Bain, head of trade policy at the BCC, emphasised the need for targeted intervention. “The growing disparity between the experience of the UK’s largest and smallest exporters is deeply concerning,” he said. “It underlines our call for urgent government action, in partnership with business, to help smaller firms reap the benefits of trade.”
While almost half of large exporters (47%) said their export volumes had remained stable, only 27% of micro exporters saw growth, and another 27% reported declines. In the previous quarter, 29% of large exporters reported growth in export orders, compared with just 20% seeing a fall.
Overall, 24% of all exporters reported increased overseas sales in the third quarter, while 22% said they had secured more new export orders.
Bain noted that although businesses welcomed the government’s refreshed trade strategy, launched in June, the benefits were still not reaching the smallest companies. “Larger exporters are starting to feel the effects of improved market access,” he said, “but small and micro businesses need greater practical support—from help navigating paperwork and logistics to tailored advice on entering new markets.”
The BCC’s report comes as the government prepares for International Trade Week, organised by the Department for Business and Trade. The fifth annual event will feature a series of in-person and online sessions designed to encourage more UK businesses to export and help firms understand the opportunities created by recent trade agreements.
Sir Chris Bryant, the minister for exports, stated that the government was “breaking down barriers to trade” and negotiating additional deals to open up new markets. “We are determined to make it easier for British businesses of all sizes to sell their goods and services abroad,” he said.
However, business leaders argue that the government must go further if the UK is to strengthen its export base. The BCC warned that without dedicated support for small and micro firms, the country risks a two-tier trade recovery, in which only the largest exporters benefit from new market access.
Trade experts caution that smaller companies face unique barriers, including higher compliance costs, limited access to export finance, and a lack of localised expertise in customs and regulation. The BCC has urged the government to extend export credit guarantees, simplify digital trade paperwork, and improve access to on-the-ground support through UK embassies and trade offices.
For Bain, the message is clear: “The UK cannot afford to have its smallest businesses locked out of global markets. If Britain is serious about becoming a trading nation again, the government must give SMEs the tools and confidence they need to grow abroad.”
As International Trade Week begins, attention will focus on whether the government’s export strategy can finally translate into meaningful opportunities for the thousands of smaller firms that form the backbone of the UK economy.
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