Amazon has announced the first two exporting events in a series with the Department for International Trade providing startups and small and medium-sized businesses with free advice to help them sell their products globally on Amazon’s stores and beyond.
The events are part of Amazon Small Business Accelerator, a major support package for UK small businesses and startups founded by Amazon and Enterprise Nation. The first two-day bootcamp, Exporting for Food & Drink Businesses, will take place on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 June 2021. The two-day course provides entrepreneurs in the food and drinks sector with specific guidance on selling on Amazon, together with sessions on compliance, exporting, health and safety and using social media to grow your business.
In July, Amazon and the DIT will host the second bootcamp event focused on selling to the US, Australia, and the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region, with presentations from Department for International Trade experts on how to navigate the current exporting challenges for small businesses, details of how to use marketing and brand tools on Amazon, and an opportunity to hear first-hand from successful Amazon small businesses selling partners reaching customers around the world online.
At each event attendees will be offered up to six hours of free training and support on how to sell successfully from a range of specialists. They will also be connected to a group of like-minded entrepreneurs and receive ongoing access to a network of trainers and advisers from Enterprise Nation to assist them throughout their business journey. The remaining exporting bootcamps with the Department for International Trade will take place across the rest of 2021, with specific events for businesses based in Scotland and London.
These targeted bootcamps will help to support the UK’s enterprise community through this period and beyond.
“Amazon is proud to be working with the Department for International Trade and Enterprise Nation to deliver free education to business owners and entrepreneurs in helping them to go global online," said Simon Donegan, Head of Seller Services, Amazon.
"Through these events small businesses will be equipped with the tools, knowledge and support they need to establish a successful online operation and reach customers around the world.”
Emma Jones CBE, Head of Enterprise Nation, said, “Exporting and going global is clearly a huge topic for small businesses and as they tackle new transition-related responsibilities for the first time, free bootcamps like these are vital to ensure we can help guide firms through these challenges.
"The UK’s startup appetite has not been dimmed and remains as strong, if not stronger, than ever. What is clear however, is that the demand for early-stage support and guidance on everything from what to include in a business plan, to how to export to the US and new markets has exploded. These targeted bootcamps will help to support the UK’s enterprise community through this period and beyond.”
According to research from Enterprise Nation, a fifth of UK adults wanted to start a business in 2021, and of those, 12 per cent say they would need extra support to get it off the ground, whilst 19% say they need more training before taking the plunge.
“It is vital that UK small businesses are supported so we can build back better and deliver an export-led recovery from the pandemic," said Jamila Saidi, Head of Digital Commerce, Retail & Luxury, Department for International Trade.
"I therefore really welcome the launch of the Amazon Small Business Accelerator exports campaign. Working in partnership with the Department for International Trade, the initiative has been designed to help businesses from individual sectors, as well as providing them with the expertise they need to sell into some of the largest markets in the world.”
Tens of thousands of UK-based small and medium-sized businesses sell their products in Amazon’s stores across the world and Amazon provides practical support and services to help them grow. More than 60% of UK businesses selling on Amazon export to customers all over the world. In 2019 they achieved total export sales of more than £2.75bn and supported more than 85,000 job opportunities in the UK.
The Amazon Small Business Accelerator offers a free, online educational programme for anyone who wants to start a new business or grow an existing one. As well as bootcamp events, participants have access to online learning which is tailored to people’s business experience level, with a comprehensive curriculum covering website building, selling online, social media, marketing, managing cashflow, selling on Amazon, and identifying growth opportunities.
