What is the Export Support Grant?

The Export Support Grant can provide the funding you need to design and develop new products and services to meet the needs of new or existing international markets.

Here are a few ways Export Support Grant can help you succeed faster.

Discover

Research international market opportunities, customers and routes to market. Access specialist international market knowledge and guidance.

Design

Make updates to your products and packaging to suit your target market. Incorporate translation and local market requirements into your product.

Develop

Manufacture prototypes for testing in market. Implement regularly requirements and carry out in market testing. Protect your Intellectual Property overseas. Make a visit to the local market for customer feedback and development.

Deploy

Market launch of your product/service and local launch promotion.

How do I make an application?

Preparing to Apply

The first step is check you meet the minimum criteria to apply.

• Based in City of Edinburgh Council area
• Are an SME
• Looking to export for the first time or to a new territory

Once you’ve checked, you can speak to your Business Gateway Adviser and request an application form.

A blank application form will be sent out to you to complete.

How much support can I get?

If successful, you will be awarded a grant for 70% of the total project costs, up to a maximum grant of

£2,000.

What activities can I do?

Any design or development work related to launching new products or services for international markets, such as research, scoping, brand and packaging design work, prototyping, planning and work related to launching something new into the market. With digital services and products, we can help with wireframing, minimum viable product/service creation, user experience and customer journey planning.

What activities can’t I do?

General business activities won’t be supported. We can’t cover the cost of building a website for you to sell products. Other ineligible activities could include printing of marketing materials, capital expenditure (such as buying machinery) and the costs of manufacturing or purchasing stock. We also can’t cover any salary costs or internal costs.

Are VAT costs covered?

The grant will only cover non-VAT costs. When completing the application form, please exclude VAT from any costs.

My company is not VAT registered. Can I still apply?

Non-VAT registered businesses can only apply by exception if approval is provided by a Business Gateway Adviser. Please note, that whilst you can be approved to apply for the grant, any VAT costs need to be covered by the company and cannot be included in your grant application.

Can I apply for funding for work that has started?

The grant can only be used to cover activities which are yet to begin. Therefore, it is not possible to include activities in the application form that have already started.

What information should my suppliers me to submit with my application?

We will review your application form alongside quotations or a development proposal from the supplier(s). If the appraisers need any further information, they will contact you. Please make sure you include a detailed quote or proposal from the suppliers you plan to work with. We can’t progress without this. Please make sure your suppliers provide you with a quotation and not an invoice.

Can suppliers be sole traders?

Yes, this is possible if they are registered sole traders. A UTR number may be required.

Can my suppliers be overseas?

Yes, this isn’t a problem. We encourage applicants to source their suppliers from within the UK. However, if there are no available suppliers within the UK, you may look further afield for specialist skills and expertise.

This project is funded through The UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus

Export Support Grant Review Process

Submit application and project quotations to bglothian@bgateway.com

Application reviewed within 2 weeks. You will receive decision by email.

Once the funding agreement is signed and returned you can commit spend on the project

You claim your grant contribution upon project completion and submission of claim form and evidence of spend.

Managing Your Project

What happens if my application is approved?

You will receive an email which outlines eligible project costs and the amount of grant funding approved for each cost. Please note that City of Edinburgh Council will only fund the agreed eligible activities.

Successful applicants will receive a funding agreement by email which must be signed and returned. The contract details the value of the grant award and sets out the terms and conditions of the grant. Please note City of Edinburgh Council require you to sign and return your contract before any work on the project can begin.

You will receive a funding agreement by email. Once this is printed, signed and returned you can commit spend on the project

Upon completion of the project, complete claim documents and obtain necessary proof for claim eg bank statements, invoices, receipts

Send all claims paperwork to bglothian@bgateway.com

Once approved, a Purchase Order number will be supplied for you to invoice us for the agreed funds.  Once an invoice is received payment will be made within 30 days of receipt

What happens if a supplier lets me down or things change?

If you are having issues with a supplier, please let us know sooner rather than later. If you decide to change supplier, please let us know the details of the change and a quotation/proposal from the new supplier. You will then be sent a letter confirming the change to supplier, if your change is approved. We understand that innovation projects are often complicated. If the scope of your project changes, please let us know as soon as possible.

Will I still be awarded my original grant amount if the total project cost is less than expected?

If the total cost of the project was less than expected, the grant amount will decrease to 70% of the actual final project cost. Alternatively, if the total project cost is more than expected, the grant value is limited to the grant amount originally offered in the contract. The maximum amount a company can receive in grant funding for a Export Support Grant project is capped at £2,000.

Making Your Claim at The End of The Project

Is it possible to split my grant claim over more than one payment to manage cashflow?

Export Support Grant is a single claim grant and companies are eligible to make one claim for their funding once they have finished their project.

How long do I have to finish my project?

We ask that the project is completed and claimed within 3 months of grant approval. Please contact us to request an extension if the project is delayed.

When does my grant get paid?

Your grant will be paid out if you successfully complete the project and submit your claim to us before the contract end date.

Do I have to pay my suppliers before I claim?

Yes, please ensure you have enough cash flow in place to pay for your project in its entirety. You will then be reimbursed with your grant on successful completion of project, when all suppliers have been paid, the work has been completed and you have submitted a claim to City of Edinburgh Council.