Backing Britain's Global Champions:

The Prime Minister and current government have advocated 'Global Britain' at several key moments,
and it is therefore important to consider what it means and how the UK government can achieve this
ambition.
This research paper sets out to identify what the UK does differently from France, Germany and
Sweden, notably through their outward trade missions and delegations. What are public authorities
doing to increase our own national champions' access to relevant markets? The author, Jim
McConalogue seeks to identify areas where the UK government could lend more support to our
global champions to give them a competitive advantage.
The research proceeds with an analysis of a representative number of foreign delegations combining
senior officials and trade/business delegates over a 10-year period for each of the four countries.
Have they helped drive exports and investment, and if so, how? The research develops a comparison
of how our arrangements have benefitted them and how they could generate advantages for the UK
in the immediate future.
An essential feature of trade support across many advanced industrialised countries has often been
the role of trade missions. Civitas researchers found that government-backed trade missions have
secured at least GBP56 billion of investment into the UK over the last decade.?
In terms of producing demonstrable export benefits, research has shown that not only do trade
missions increase the profits of participating businesses, they also promote non-exporting
companies to engage in export activities. This report raises concerns that Britain is falling behind
other major economies in winning global investment and more needs to be done at the highest
political levels to support our global champions.
The report provides a series of recommendations for future governments to support our exporters
and learn from other countries who 'pull out all the stops' to win investment into their country.
 
The Prime Minister and current government have advocated 'Global Britain' at several key moments,
and it is therefore important to consider what it means and how the UK government can achieve this
ambition.
This research paper sets out to identify what the UK does differently from France, Germany and
Sweden, notably through their outward trade missions and delegations. What are public authorities
doing to increase our own national champions' access to relevant markets? The author, Jim
McConalogue seeks to identify areas where the UK government could lend more support to our
global champions to give them a competitive advantage.
The research proceeds with an analysis of a representative number of foreign delegations combining
senior officials and trade/business delegates over a 10-year period for each of the four countries.
Have they helped drive exports and investment, and if so, how? The research develops a comparison
of how our arrangements have benefitted them and how they could generate advantages for the UK
in the immediate future.
An essential feature of trade support across many advanced industrialised countries has often been
the role of trade missions. Civitas researchers found that government-backed trade missions have
secured at least GBP56 billion of investment into the UK over the last decade.?
In terms of producing demonstrable export benefits, research has shown that not only do trade
missions increase the profits of participating businesses, they also promote non-exporting
companies to engage in export activities. This report raises concerns that Britain is falling behind
other major economies in winning global investment and more needs to be done at the highest
political levels to support our global champions.
The report provides a series of recommendations for future governments to support our exporters
and learn from other countries who 'pull out all the stops' to win investment into their country.