Export support available to the GREAT UK Rail Sector
This document is designed to highlight the different types of support offered by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), UK Export finance, the Railway Industry Association (RIA), Innovate UK and the Department for Transport to the Rail sector to support exports. The document provides hyperlinks directing you to support service websites. With UK rail exports exceeding £1 billion annually and supporting over 12,500 jobs, together we want to unlock further growth in the global rail supply market.
Department for Business and Trade
Business.gov.uk is the DBT online self-serve offer that provides support for any UK business of any size. It acts as a single-entry point bringing together all DBT’s export support. It is designed to help businesses self-serve more efficiently by offering access to quick answers to exporting questions via tools and how-to articles such as ‘learn to export’ and ‘choosing the right export opportunities’
The Export support team helps businesses that have a specific question or would like to access inperson support, and will triage enquiries to direct businesses to the right type / level of support. Contacted through a questionnaire on business.gov.uk the Export Support Team links digital and inperson support by providing a first response to enquiries from businesses that have not been able to self-serve, or that want to access DBT’s wider network of in-person support.
The Business Academy is a free training programme for UK businesses looking to grow internationally. The programme is aimed at both new and experienced exporters. The courses include essentials, masterclasses and sector/market events.
International Trade Advisors are dedicated market and sector specialists. They provide export support and account management for companies that want to accelerate their international growth. They can undertake export health checks, develop export strategies, identify trade exhibitions, advise on grants, advise on “Documents & Declarations” and support digital trade
DBT’s overseas teams based in British embassies and high commissions across the globe offer extensive local expertise and bespoke in-market support to businesses. They are proficient in the nuances of in-country business culture and can help find agents/distributors/partnerships and export opportunities. The DBT Rail sector team maintains a list of contacts with a focus on the rail sector.
DBT organises a variety of online and in-person events and trade missions, many in partnership with RIA . These support companies to build exporting knowledge, highlight market opportunities and meet buyers.
DBT produces high-level market guides which include information on doing business, tax rates and import regulations.
The DBT Rail Sector team supports companies with UK rail supply challenges, exporting and inward investment. On exporting, the team generates opportunities, presents the UK offer, provides tools to the DBT overseas team and supports inward and outward missions. The team maintains overviews of rail projects
UK Export Finance
UK Export Finance is the UK’s Export Credit Agency and provides export finance, insurance and guidance to help UK companies of all sizes sell overseas. It helps companies win contracts by providing attractive financing terms to their buyers, fulfil orders by supporting working capital and trade finance and get paid by insuring against buyer default. Key products are:
Working capital - extra cash via trade finance facilities so you can take on more or larger orders with confidence.
Export insurance - protect your business from the risk of not getting paid.
Finance for international buyers - Attractive financing to buy from UK suppliers. Whilst this product is not available to UK suppliers, UK Export Finance are actively supporting international buyers to support international projects, providing buyers commit to purchasing from the UK.
Railway Industry Association
The Railway Industry Association (RIA) supports UK rail exports by advocating for better support to exports for the UK Rail sector. RIA identifies barriers to exporting and proposes solutions.
RIA organises overseas trade missions with the DBT, enabling UK rail suppliers to explore international markets and forge partnerships. It hosts UK Pavilions at major global rail exhibitions like InnoTrans, providing members with a platform to showcase their innovations. Additionally, RIA runs ‘Meet the Buyer’ events, facilitates inward delegations, and delivers international trade policy briefings to help members navigate export regulations. RIA issues a weekly exports newsletter highlighting global opportunities and promotes events linked to trade deals.
RIA events are advertised on the Railway Industry Association’s official events page, including a full calendar of upcoming conferences, workshops, training sessions, and networking opportunities tailored to support export growth and international engagement. Members can browse and book events directly from this portal.
To receive the weekly exports newsletter, RIA members should ensure they are subscribed through their membership profile or contact the RIA team directly via the Exports & Trade page. The newsletter includes export opportunities, news, and updates on events linked to trade deals and international rail markets.
RIA gets support from their RIA Exports Leadership Group which helps provide strategic direction and advice on export activities. The Group's Chair is Joy Grover, Associate Director, PriestmanGoode, and Vice Chair Andrea Green, UK&I Business Development Director, Alstom Transport UK with the Group bringing together senior figures from within the RIA Membership from UK based rail suppliers who export goods and services around the world and can share their experiences and exporting skills for the greater good
Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office provide information on help and services available around the world for each country. This includes information on Overseas business risk for individual countries, outlining key security and political risks which UK businesses may face when operating
Department for Transport
The DfT International Rail Trade and Engagement Team promotes UK Rail on the world stage to deliver the Department for Transport’s priorities and wider Government objectives, secure commercial wins for UK business, and enhance the UK’s reputation as leaders in the field. This is done by:
• Developing and promoting trade opportunities and knowledge sharing for the UK rail industry and supply chain on the world stage
• Securing strong bilateral partnerships with other countries on rail
• Championing UK rail supply chain expertise and capabilities to foreign partners
• Ensuring that key objectives for rail are achieved in Free Trade and other agreements
• Exploring opportunities for Third Country Collaboration (TCC) with international partners
Crossrail International
Crossrail International (CI) is a specialist advisory practice, wholly owned by the UK government’s Department for Transport (DfT), that provides strategic advice globally to client organisations developing and delivering complex rail schemes. Crossrail International supports UK rail sector exports by leveraging its expertise from major UK infrastructure projects such as the Elizabeth line, HS1, and HS2 to advise international clients on complex rail schemes. As a UK government-owned advisory body, CI provides expert strategic advice to government agencies, transport authorities, and funding organisations worldwide, helping them plan, deliver, and assure large-scale rail infrastructure projects. CI’s work spans over 60 commissions in 18 countries across five continents, showcasing UK rail expertise and promoting best practices globally. It facilitates knowledge transfer, capacity building, and technical assistance, such as supporting transit-oriented development in Vietnam and rail sector training in Indonesia. These efforts not only raise the profile of UK rail capabilities but also contribute directly to the UK’s export strategy by creating international demand for UK-based skills, systems, and consultancy.
Innovate UK
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the UK’s innovation agency. It works to create a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses developing life-changing innovations. Its mission is to help companies to grow through their development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive and easy to navigate.
Innovate UK Business Growth is Innovate UK’s national business growth and scaling service. It is available to all established and ambitious small to medium sized innovators.
It equips these innovation-focused businesses to make the best strategic choices and harness the right resources to accelerate their growth through one-to-one support from over 450 innovation and growth specialists and scaleup directors in every UK region and nation.
Their tailored, expert advice helps thousands of businesses sharpen their commercial strategies, realise the maximum value from their IP, raise game changing investment and take their businesses onto the global stage every year.
Innovate UK Business Connect creates diverse connections to drive positive change, connecting innovators with new partners and new opportunities beyond their existing thinking – accelerating ambitious ideas into real-world solutions.
IUK Business Connect is the network partner of Innovate UK. It works to create a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses developing life-changing innovations.
Its mission is to help companies to grow through their development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive and easy to navigate.
Innovate UK Business Connect's rail team works with major stakeholders within rail to identify key industry challenges, then uses their wider network to connect solution holders (including SMEs, academics and other businesses) to industry to address these needs. It also provides support through events, guidance on grant applications and other networking opportunities.