Our Activities
This page details our planned activities, each of which is connected to the four focus areas of the group. These may will change over time so do check back for updates and use the Get Involved page to send any questions through to the secretariat.
The Trade Triangle Inquiry
You can find the submission for written evidence here.
The APPG is holding an inquiry following the publication of the Government’s Trade Strategy, Industrial Strategy, and Small Business Command Paper. We launched our inquiry with a meet-up of local businesses at Teesside Airport, led by Mayor of Tees Valley, Lord Ben Houchen.
We are gathering insights from small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on how the proposals outlined in each publication will assist businesses, as well as exploring what challenges may remain.
Facilitating International trade
2026 is an exciting year for trade in the UK. With the Trade Cooperation Agreement with the EU up for renewal in May and the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement forthcoming, there is an encouraging feeling amongst businesses.
At the APPG, we're keen promote opportunities to facilitate and ease trade. Discussions with industry offered suggestions such as cross-departmental approach to logistics and using digital currencies to speed up processes and improve protections.
We will shortly announce an event on our website.
Roundtable on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SP)
The APPG will co-host a roundtable on the proposed agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Dynamic Alignment between the UK and the EU, which will help importers, exporters, and logistics providers with frictionless trade.
This session will provide industry with the opportunity to discuss business preparedness, compliance and discuss broader proposals around dynamic alignment with the EU.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office Chris Ward MP will be attending from the government.
SME Access to Finance
Earlier this year, UK Export Finance announced a record £11bn lending package by British banks to support British SMEs. This package is one of the largest collective moves by the banking sector and represents a historic show of confidence in the UK economy.
The APPG is delighted to be partnering with Santander, NatWest, and HSBC to deliver a panel session - three of the five leading banks is one of the largest collective moves by the banking sector - hosted by our Vice Chair, Lord Dominic Johnson, to discuss how we can continue to support the backbone of the economy.
Previous Activities
The Trade Triangle - Session 2
Following a launch in October 2025, the APPG was pleased to host a second roundtable on the Trade Triangle, on 27th April, bringing together SMEs from across the Thames Valley for a highly insightful discussion on the opportunities and challenges they face as scaling exporters. The session was hosted in collaboration with the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce, and was ably chaired by Jack Rankin MP.
Key points raised included the variation in ability to provide skills training based on company size, access to export finance, the eight priority sectors, and the uneven awarenss and utilisation of free trade agreements.
UK Fintech in Focus
The APPG was delighted to hold a thought-leadership session on 18th November 2025, which brought together some of the UK’s leading fintech voices to examine our global competitiveness, just days ahead of the Government’s Budget.
With many thanks to Santander UK for hosting, the event brought together panellists from across the crypto space, regulatory circles, and traditional finance.
A lively discussion explored the UK's financial expertise and vibrant start-up base, as well as how AI can augment, rather than replace, the existing workforce.
Panellists and attendees alike also examined the challenges facing the sector, such as access to capital, the need to bolster skills (especially in AI), and the broader culture of risk aversion.
The main takeaway was a feeling of positivity and ambition that Britain can shape global standards in digital assets and lead the next wave of financial innovation from the front.
The Trade Triangle - Session 1
The APPG was delighted to launch its inquiry, The Trade Triangle, at Tees Valley Airport on 9th October 2025. This inquiry explores how the government’s recently announced Industrial Strategy, Trade Strategy, and Small Business Plan can deliver tangible local benefits for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
We welcomed 20 business from across the Tees Valley region. Discussions covered the importance of free trade agreements, access to finance, supporting businesses to scale, and building the future British workforce via skills training.
Whilst attendees shared some challenges that British businesses face, there was a shared sense that, once implemented, each of the Government’s strategies can contribute to a positive and thriving business environment.
The ongoing inquiry will assess and explore how these strategies can be aligned effectively to unlock opportunities across the regions of the UK
Our thanks to Lord Houchen for chairing the session, and to the Tees Valley Chamber of Commerce for hosting the delegates.
Thanksgiving Parliamentary reception
On the 18th November 2025, the APPG for International Trade & Investment was delighted to host Brown-Forman in the Churchill Room of the House of Commons for an evening reception celebrating thanksgiving.
Our Chair Mike Reader MP spoke about the importance of a two way UK-US investment partnership, with total trade between partners representing over £300bn in the last 12 months.
The event celebrated the contribution made by the whisky industry, one of the UK's leading exports and attendees sampled a number of whisky and gin products.
The reception also reflected on the 'UK-US Prosperity Deal' and other economic agreements secured in the last six months between the two partners. These interests all support the APPG's continued work on deepening international trade relationship.
Future-Proofing Supply Chains Inquiry
In June 2025, the APPG looked at how prepared and resilient businesses are to supply chain shocks, what the biggest barriers that businesses in the trading environment face, and how both government and industry can work together to support business resilience in this area. Our report has been published and is accessible here.
