Our takeaways from the Driving International Trade Conference

Last month, members of our International Trade team attended the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), Driving International Trade Conference, bringing back valuable insights, perspectives and practical takeaways to support our customers navigating today’s fast-changing trade landscape.

Here’s what they took away from the day:

Fiona Parsons, Senior Marketing Manager, Commercial Services:

"What I found particularly valuable about the conference was the balance between realism and optimism. Hearing from Andy Haldane CBE, President, BCC, in the keynote really set the tone. He didn’t shy away from the challenges facing global trade, but he also made a strong case for why trade still matters, particularly in supporting growth and helping to manage the cost of living.

I also really enjoyed hearing from Lord Stockwood, Minister for Investment, who came across as refreshingly down to earth and clearly understands the practical challenges businesses are dealing with day to day.

The breakout sessions were another highlight for me. I attended the US and Hong Kong market sessions, and it was great to see SMEs being given the opportunity to ask the difficult, real-world questions, and to hear honest, informed responses from the experts on the panel. Those kinds of conversations are incredibly valuable when you’re navigating international markets."

Megan Childs, Assistant Manager, International Trade Services:

"For me, the conference really reinforced just how important Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are in helping UK businesses stay competitive, particularly in a global environment that feels increasingly uncertain.

I attended the India and EU market breakout sessions, which offered two very different but equally important perspectives. The India session highlighted the scale of opportunity that new agreements can unlock, particularly as the UK-India FTA progresses. There was a real sense of momentum around sectors like food and drink, manufacturing and tech, especially where businesses are ready to understand and apply preferential origin.

At the same time, the EU session was a useful reminder that, while we’re all looking to new markets, the EU remains the UK’s largest and most established trading partner. For many businesses, there is still significant opportunity closer to home, by improving how they use existing agreements and processes.

What stood out to me overall was the growing focus on helping businesses not just understand trade agreements, but actively use them. With new initiatives emerging, such as the Diplomatic Hub and Trade Accelerator programmes, there is a clear shift towards creating more practical, accessible routes into international markets.

That’s very much where our focus lies too, helping our customers turn these opportunities into something tangible, whether that’s reducing costs, entering new markets, or building confidence to trade internationally."

James Monk, Director of Commercial Services, added:

"What stood out to me at the conference was the combination of global perspective and practical opportunity. There was a clear acknowledgement of the challenges businesses are facing internationally, but also a strong focus on where growth can come from, whether that’s through new markets, evolving trade agreements or better use of existing frameworks, like the Chamber network.

Just as valuable, though, were the conversations happening outside the main sessions. Events like this bring together a wide range of businesses, partners and policymakers, and those informal discussions often lead to the most useful insights - and, importantly, new opportunities for collaboration. 

For me, it reinforced the importance of not just understanding the global landscape but actively engaging with it. Building relationships, sharing experiences and identifying where we can support our customers to grow internationally."