Global Britain? A report on the global ambitions of UK businesses

We surveyed 615 business leaders across the UK to explore their perception, challenges and needs as they look to grow through international markets.

Download your Global Britain? report here.

The landscape for UK businesses remains challenging. Whilst the uncertainties surrounding the COVID pandemic and Brexit are fading, they continue to present significant challenges for businesses.

They are greatly exacerbated by the Russian-Ukraine conflict constricting supply chains further. Soaring inflation, rising interest rates, stalling economies and political uncertainty combined is creating, for many, a cost-of-living crisis. These challenges will likely dominate the trading landscape for many months to come.

Yet despite these challenges, UK owner-managed businesses are increasingly international or global in their outlook. Levels of international trade are increasing, and businesses tell us they are looking to grow the percentage of international revenues further.

The views and ambitions of UK business leaders have never been so important – their plans and performance are vital to economic recovery. That is why we decided to undertake this study.

There are some surprising and refreshing views from UK businesses despite all the challenges they face. The findings also highlight areas where further discussion is needed. Over the next few months, we will explore some of the themes identified in this report in a series of podcasts. To register your interest in our podcasts, subscribe to receive our international business issues.

Topics covered in the report include:

• Britain’s reputation abroad
• Global trade – the impact of a challenging few years
• International markets and ambitions
• Barriers and advice

Download your Global Britain? report