The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has warned that Britain’s smallest exporters are being “left behind” as larger firms benefit from new trade agreements, calling for urgent government action to help smaller businesses expand overseas.
According to the BCC’s latest Quarterly Trade Confidence Report, only 16 per cent of micro exporters — companies with fewer than ten employees — reported growth in international sales during the third quarter of this year. In contrast, 42 per cent of larger exporters saw exports rise over the same period, highlighting what the BCC described as a “deeply concerning” divide.
The findings, based on a survey of 4,600 UK businesses conducted between August 18 and September 15, reveal that smaller firms are struggling to capitalise on the government’s recent trade deals, including those with India, the United States and the European Union.
William Bain, head of trade policy at the BCC, said the widening gap underlines 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 per cent) said their export volumes had remained stable, only 27 per cent of micro exporters saw growth, and a further 27 per cent reported declines. In the previous quarter, 29 per cent of large exporters had reported growth in export orders, compared with just 20 per cent seeing a fall.
Overall, 24 per cent of all exporters reported increased overseas sales in the third quarter, while 22 per cent said they had secured more new export orders.
Bain said that although businesses welcomed the government’s refreshed trade strategy, launched in June, the benefits were still not filtering down to 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 and is run 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 to help firms understand the opportunities created by recent trade agreements.
Sir Chris Bryant, the minister for exports, said 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 said 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 warn 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, the spotlight will be 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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Small exporters ‘left behind’ as larger firms surge ahead, warns BCC
