Tees Valley Export Fund

Tees Valley Export Fund

Supports Tees Valley firms entering export markets through the Tees Valley Export Fund.

The Tees Valley Export Fund is a grant programme administered by the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) and co-delivered with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It provides grants of between £3,000 and £10,000 to businesses located in the Tees Valley — covering Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees — that are seeking to begin or grow their export activities. The programme has a total allocation of £200,000 and may close early once those funds are exhausted. Priority sectors include Advanced Manufacturing, Health & Biologics, Process Chemicals and Energy, Digital & Creative, and Business & Professional Services.

Applicants must have been actively trading in the Tees Valley for at least 12 months and must demonstrate prior export interest, such as completing a DBT Export Academy course or conducting sector-specific export research. A 25% match funding contribution from the applicant's own resources is mandatory. Eligible costs are revenue items only and include international trade event attendance, trade stand equipment, website and marketing material adaptation for foreign audiences, export consultancy or legal advice, and market research. Capital costs, salary expenses, logistics, and already-completed activities are explicitly excluded. All activity must be completed and claimed by 31 August 2026; applications for events in FCDO travel-advised regions are not accepted.

Businesses apply by registering interest through the TVCA online portal. Decision panels convene every two weeks, with notification within one month of submission. Grant disbursement follows project completion and takes approximately 10 working days after submission of claim forms with supporting invoices and receipts. Recipients are required to complete a short evaluation survey three to six months after project completion. Applicants improve their chances by having a clear export market target, confirmed participation in a DBT programme, and a realistic cost breakdown covering the 25% match.