UK Export Finance: Helping You Export Through Government-Backed Finance and Insurance
UK Export Finance (UKEF) is a UK government ministerial department and the nation’s export credit agency (ECA). UKEF helps exporters access working capital and manage the risk of not getting paid by offering a government guarantee. It partners with private sector finance providers and other countries’ export credit agencies to grow UK exports and international trade.
UKEF supports companies of all sizes and multiple sectors across the UK.
It helps UK companies:
- win export contracts by guaranteeing finance to buyers so they can source from the UK
- fulfil more orders by unlocking working capital to take on new or higher value contracts
- get paid for their products and services with insurance against buyer default
Operating for over 100 years, UKEF is an awarding winning ECA with an extensive track record of success in supporting UK businesses to reach new international markets.
Some of UKEF’s most popular products are the General Export Facility, Export Insurance Policy and Bond Support Scheme.
- General Export Facility: provides a partial guarantee to a UK business’s bank to help them gain access to trade finance, including loans and letters of credit. UKEF’s guarantee can unlock working capital to support business growth – without being tied to a specific export contract. This helps businesses cover the everyday costs linked to exporting, including paying for labour costs and building inventory to boost exports.
- Export Insurance Policy: insures businesses against the risk of not being paid for export contracts, or of not being able to recover the costs of performing a contract because of certain events. UKEF may be able to provide cover even when the private market cannot offer insurance.
- Bond Support Scheme: if the terms of a contract require a bond, such as performance guarantees or advance payment guarantees, UKEF’s Bond Support Scheme can guarantee up to 80% of the bond’s value to the exporter’s bank, allowing the bank to release the cash needed to secure the bond back to the exporter to use as working capital.
UKEF can help SMEs through its network of regional Export Finance Managers based around the UK who can provide free and impartial consultations to businesses on their export finance needs. They help UK companies to check they are getting the appropriate export finance support and, if not, guide them on how to bridge any gaps.
UKEF’s finance, insurance and guarantees can help businesses of all sizes access working capital, manage risks and compete on a global scale. Get in touch to see how they can help your business reach new markets.
LCCI is delighted to be hosting an event on Thursday 14 May with UKEF to help SMEs discover how to access finance, manage risk, and expand confidently into international markets through expert guidance and real-world success stories. Whether you are new to exporting or ready to scale, this session will equip you with the tools, insights, and confidence to take your business further. Book your free spot now.