Chamber member International Trade Matters was invited to join Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, at an exclusive event to launch the government’s ‘Backing your Business’ plan for small and medium-sized businesses.
Held in Swindon on 31st July, the event brought together a small, select cohort of UK-based SMEs to hear about and discuss the new plan.
Setting out a long-term direction for the government’s support for smaller firms, the plan places growth and productivity potential at its core, including actions relating to access to finance, late‑payment reforms, business support, and digital modernisation.
Qing Lin from International Trade Matters, who attended the invitation-only event, is a seasoned advisor specialising in global expansion and relations, as well as being an expert on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). She was invited as a specialist advisor in IT and global trade readiness, reinforcing International Trade Matters’ position as a credible partner in digital and export transformation for SMEs.
Qing Lin took the opportunity to question the Prime Minister about whether the government remains committed to supporting international trade for SMEs, particularly amid current geopolitical tensions. He enthusiastically affirmed the government’s commitment and continued backing for international trade support, promptly calling in Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds to join the conversation. As a result, and following subsequent contact with the Department for Business and Trade, senior officers have expressed support and interest in collaborating with International Trade Matters, particularly on SME projects relating to the CPTPP.
Commenting following the event, Qing Lin said: “It was a privilege to be invited, alongside a very few fellow SMEs, to meet with the Prime Minister to highlight the urgent need to support UK SMEs in trading internationally. We are deeply committed to levelling the playing field so that small and medium-sized enterprises, not just the largest corporations who can access global markets, grow with confidence, and contribute meaningfully to the UK’s economic future.
“That means more than signing trade agreements. It means providing practical, accessible support that helps businesses understand, navigate, and succeed in international trade.
“Agreements like CPTPP are part of the opportunity, but the real impact will come when we translate policy into action, with focus on locally, sector by sector, business by business, as it’s essential for government to engage with experts like us to implement it, as we live and breathe international trade.”
International Trade Matters brings together a team of highly experienced specialists with a combination of regional, industry sector, and export-function expertise, ensuring access to exactly the right support and knowledge at each stage of the export journey. They work with Chambers of Commerce, Government Bodies, Local Authorities, and numerous partner organisations, providing important trade services including logistics, translations, and recruitment. With decades of experience in developing and facilitating business all over the world, their experts deliver international trade-focused training, mentoring, audits, and bespoke packages.