Corporate report

Department for International Trade single departmental plan

Updated 27 June 2019

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

This corporate report was withdrawn on 15 July 2021

It has been replaced by our outcome delivery plan.

Our single departmental plan sets out our objectives and how we will achieve them.

Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade

The Rt Hon Liam Fox MP

Permanent Secretary

Antonia Romeo

Second Permanent Secretary and Chief Trade Negotiation Adviser

Crawford Falconer

The Department for International Trade (DIT) helps businesses to export, drives inward and outward investment, negotiates market access and trade agreements, and champions free trade.

Our objectives

We will:

1. Support UK businesses to grow internationally in a sustainable way.
2. Ensure the UK remains a leading destination for international investment and maintains its number one position for international investment stock in Europe.
3. Open markets, building a trade framework with new and existing partners which is free and fair.
4. Use trade and investment to underpin the government’s agenda for a Global Britain and its ambitions for prosperity, stability and security worldwide.
5. Build DIT as an effective international economic department where our people are expert, enterprising, engaged and inclusive.

1. Support UK businesses to grow internationally in a sustainable way

Lead ministers

Rt Hon Liam Fox MP, Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade

Graham Stuart MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Investment)

Lead official

John Mahon, Director General, Exports

1.1 Encourage and inspire UK businesses to sell overseas

How we will achieve this:

• implement the UK Export Strategy by running the ‘Exporting is GREAT’ campaign to raise awareness about exporting, sharing best practice and encouraging businesses to begin exporting or grow their exports (contributes to SDG 8)

• encourage exporting by providing information, guidance and listing viable overseas opportunities for UK businesses on great.gov.uk

• celebrate excellence in trade across the UK through the Board of Trade, Board of Trade Awards and our network of Export Champions

1.2 Inform businesses by providing information, advice and practical assistance on exporting

How we will achieve this:

• use our network of International Trade Advisers, e-commerce advisers, and overseas posts to help UK businesses develop export plans and build their capability and knowledge to undertake international business

• upskill individuals and businesses using our National Trade Academy Programme

• help businesses to navigate the trading environment through our digital services, connecting them to tangible business opportunities as well as public, private and third sector support

1.3 Connect UK businesses with overseas buyers, international markets, and each other

How we will achieve this:

• help UK businesses meet overseas buyers through tailored international and UK events, trade missions and our digital services on great.gov.uk

• showcase the UK’s strengths and capabilities via the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoys, the ‘GREAT Global Trade’ campaign, VIP visits, and our network of Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioners

• help UK companies build consortia to secure major international contracts through Infrastructure Exports: UK

1.4 Finance exports through UKEF products and encourage the availability and uptake of private sector funding

How we will achieve this:

• direct UK business to UK Export Finance’s (UKEF) trade and export finance services as well as other sources of finance to ensure that no viable project fails through lack of financing

• open and develop opportunities where export finance is required using our joint DIT-UKEF network of International Export Finance Executives

• access companies of all sizes, both directly and through major high street banks

• provide £50 billion risk appetite to support UK exporters using world leading, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development compliant export credit products

1.5 Drive sustainable growth by encouraging and facilitating Outward Direct Investment

How we will achieve this:

• provide information to UK companies operating overseas and connect them to foreign officials and other companies

• run promotional events in the UK and overseas to highlight the benefits of Outward Direct Investment

• promote Outward Direct Investment opportunities, where they provide benefit for the UK, through our account managers

• deliver on the ambition for the UK to be the largest G7 investor in Africa by 2022 through our offer to businesses and by expanding the UK government’s presence in Africa, bringing in trade experts, investment specialists, and other policy experts

Our performance

UK export performance - exports as a percentage of UK GDP

Time	Exports as a % of GDP
12 months to end Dec 2018	30.0
12 months to end Dec 2017	30.2
12 months to end Dec 2016	28.3

Our ambition is to strengthen our position as one of the 21st century’s great trading nations. We want to raise exports as a percentage of GDP from 30% to 35%, towards the top of the G7 by this measure.

Source: UK Trade: January 2019 and GDP first quarterly estimate, UK: October to December 2018; release schedule: monthly.

Value of UK exports

£636.6 billion 12 months to end January 2019

Source: ONS UK Trade (January 2019); release schedule: monthly.

Value of our customers’ export wins

£30.5 billion 2017/18

Source: DIT Annual Reports and Accounts 2017 to 2018; release schedule: annual.

Value of UK Outward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Stock (£billion)

Time	Total UK outward FDI stock (£billion)
2017	1,313
2016	1,274
2015	1,084
2014	1,079

Source: Foreign direct investment involving UK companies: 2017; release schedule: annual

2. Ensure the UK remains a leading destination for international investment and maintains its number one position for international investment stock in Europe

Lead minister

Graham Stuart MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Investment)

Lead official

Mark Slaughter, Director General, Investment

2.1 Identify and engage prospective investors to the UK, while maintaining relationships with strategically important investors

How we will achieve this:

• exhibit UK investment opportunities to potential investors where government support could best influence inward investment through our global network, supported by market research by our investment services teams

• support the UK’s top exporters and investors through our coordinated strategic relationship management programme, including utilising our network of overseas staff

• build relationships with institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds and pension funds

2.2 Promote the UK as a world leading investment destination and work with regions and nations to showcase investment opportunities across the country

How we will achieve this:

• work across government and with local partners and industry to identify investment opportunities to strengthen national and regional economies (contributes to SDG 8)

• implement our High Potential Opportunities Programme to highlight investment opportunities that are attractive to investors and have economic potential, supporting the aims of the Industrial Strategy in ensuring that prosperity is spread throughout the UK regions (contributes to SDG 8)

• promote investable opportunities across the UK, including through Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioners and our overseas network

• promote the UK as an investment destination overseas including through the ‘Invest in GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland’ campaign

2.3 Offer expert help and advice to investors to help them establish and grow their business in the UK

How we will achieve this:

• account-manage investors and help them set up in the UK, providing clear points of contact, tailored advice and practical support

• refresh the UK Investment Support Directory, a directory of professional private sector service providers, which helps foreign investors set up in the UK

• work with other government departments, devolved administrations and local partners to support investors to set up in the UK and manage relationships with investors

2.4 Work across government and industry to understand foreign investor needs and help keep the UK business environment globally competitive

How we will achieve this:

• capture feedback and intelligence which could improve the UK business environment and undertake work to understand the factors that influence investment decisions

• work with other government departments to ensure that the UK business environment remains competitive, and that domestic policy development recognises investors’ needs

• reflect the needs of institutional investors in cross-governmental decision-making to secure sufficient capital for major projects

• work to integrate international trade into initiatives to improve productivity and the UK business environment, including through the Industrial Strategy (contributes to SDG 8)

Our performance

Total UK inward FDI stock (£billion)

Time	Total UK inward FDI stock (£billion)
2017	1,337
2016	1,187
2015	1,033
2014	1,013

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) stocks measure the total level of direct investment at a given point in time. The inward FDI stock is the value of foreign investors’ equity in and net loans to enterprises resident in the reporting economy (OECD).

Source: Foreign direct investment involving UK companies: 2017, directional method, release schedule: annually.

European ranking: inward FDI stock

1st 2018

Source: UNCTAD; release schedule: annual.

Number of FDI projects supported by DIT

1,682 2017/18

Source: Department for International Trade inward investment results 2017 to 2018; release schedule: annual.

3. Open markets, building a trade framework with new and existing partners which is free and fair

Lead minister

George Hollingbery MP, Minister of State for Trade Policy

Lead officials

Crawford Falconer, Second Permanent Secretary and Chief Trade Negotiation Adviser

John Alty, Director General, Trade Policy Group

3.1 Open up new markets, by negotiating, agreeing, and ratifying a set of ambitious Free Trade Agreements

How we will achieve this:

• begin high quality and comprehensive bilateral negotiations with the US, Australia and New Zealand, in addition to potentially securing UK accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) once we have left the EU

• continue to work with partner countries to put in place bilateral trade continuity agreements to secure continuity for the effects of existing free trade agreements as we leave the EU, including in the event of a no deal

3.2 Ensure we maintain the UK’s current trade access to international markets

How we will achieve this:

• secure continuity of the effect of trade agreements

• deliver an independent trade policy consistent with our multilateral obligations and backed by enforcement through the World Trade Organization

• establish a Unilateral Preferences Trading Scheme for developing countries and develop the legislation to support this (contributes to SDG 10)

3.3 Identify barriers to market access and address them through engagement with our international partners

How we will achieve this:

• develop action plans which enable us to engage with our international counterparts to resolve barriers to trade, improving access for UK firms to key markets

• launch an online platform for businesses of all sizes across all industries to report non-tariff barriers so the UK can identify and tackle market access priorities more effectively

• deliver a meaningful and demonstrable impact on the UK’s access to priority international markets using instruments such as Joint Trade Reviews with countries including China, India and Brazil

3.4 Ensure a level playing field by defending our industries from unfair trade practices through trade remedies and dispute resolution

How we will achieve this:

• establish a Trade Remedies function, which will investigate cases where UK businesses are suffering harm caused by dumping, subsidy or unforeseen surges in imports, and make impartial recommendations to Ministers

• ensure the UK is ready to launch new trade disputes where necessary and defend its interests in trade disputes once we leave the EU

3.5 Support, strengthen, and influence the multilateral trading system, championing free and fair trade across the world

How we will achieve this

• complete the UK’s transition to becoming an independent WTO member by informing the WTO General Council that our independent schedules are live (contributes to SDG 17)

• champion reform of the WTO to enable it to tackle 21st century trade issues, by advocating new rules for digital trade, liberalisation of trade in services, advancing ongoing negotiations on fisheries subsidies, and addressing level playing field issues such as industrial subsidies (contributes to SDG 14)

• ensure the continued effectiveness of the WTO Dispute Settlement System and support initiatives to enhance transparency at the WTO

• promote a balanced WTO agenda that takes the interests of developing countries fully into account

• work with Commonwealth member states to strengthen their engagement with the multilateral trading system, including by sharing digital best practice through co-leadership with South Africa of the Commonwealth Digital Connectivity Agenda

• build on our existing policy and aid-for-trade programme portfolio in the WTO to champion and strengthen the commitment of developing countries to the multilateral trading system

4. Use trade and investment to underpin the government’s agenda for a Global Britain and its ambitions for prosperity, stability and security worldwide

Lead minister

The Rt Hon Liam Fox MP, Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade

Lead officials

Antonia Romeo, Permanent Secretary

Darren Tierney, Director, Ministerial Strategy

4.1 Strengthen UK trade and investment opportunities in developing countries, working with other government departments, to promote mutual prosperity and global poverty reduction

How we will achieve this:

• build our capability to spend Official Development Assistance funds over 2019/20 (contributes to SDG 17)

• engage with the FCO Prosperity Fund to improve the business climate, and competitiveness of markets, facilitate energy and financial sector reform, and increase the ability of governments to tackle corruption (contributes to SDG 17)

4.2 Place trade and investment at the heart of government’s ambition to maximise the UK’s presence, influence and impact across the world

How we will achieve this:

• run the GREAT Britain campaign showcasing the UK’s strength and capabilities

• provide leadership and full delivery of the UK’s activation at Major World Events on behalf of the government, including the Global Investment Summit, Dubai 2020 Expo, Beijing Horticultural Expo, 2019 Cricket World Cup, 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and planning for 2023 Buenos Aires Specialist Expo and Osaka 2025 World Expo

• leverage the influence of our network of Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioners to promote the UK overseas

• deliver the coordination of the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoys, ministerial visits and inward visits from foreign governments, Ambassadors and High Commissioners in order to promote the UK

4.3 Coordinate the government’s trade and investment activity to align with national security requirements

How we will achieve this:

• support the UK National Security Objectives by taking an active role in the National Security Council and its supporting structures, ensuring the UK trades safely with its partners and anticipating and reacting to the evolving global trade environment

• maintain the effectiveness and integrity of the UK’s export controls through Brexit and beyond, by ensuring that the UK remains compliant with its international obligations

Our performance

Number of countries in which the GREAT Britain Campaign is active

144 2017/18

The GREAT Britain Campaign works to encourage the world to visit, study and do business with the UK, generating jobs and growth for the UK. It is active in 144 countries.

Source: Department for International Trade.

5. Build DIT as an effective international economic department where our people are expert, enterprising, engaged and inclusive

Lead minister

The Rt Hon Liam Fox MP, Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade

Lead officials

Antonia Romeo, Permanent Secretary

Catherine Vaughan, Chief Operating Officer

Promote the UK as an attractive place to invest, visit and do business with, highlighting opportunities for UK businesses and raising awareness of the services DIT offers

How we will achieve this:

• represent DIT across government leading on trade and investment communications

• increase trade and investment opportunities through communication and marketing activities linked to priority sectors identified in the Industrial Strategy

• lead on activities to promote the UK as the leading destination for inward investment and increase the opportunities for UK businesses to win business overseas

• showcase the range of the UK’s trade successes and the services offered by DIT

Build user-centred digital services that support the new UK trading environment, and ensure businesses in the UK can access the protections they need, while continuing to promote trade and investment, and lead DIT’s transition to becoming a data-driven, intelligence-led and more efficient organisation

How we will achieve this:

• work across DIT, government, and with external partners to build accessible digital services that meet user needs, in accordance with Government Digital Service guidelines

• empower users, businesses in the UK and abroad, and colleagues across the DIT network, providing them with the information, support and tools they need to be successful and stay safe online

• ensure that businesses and partners can use our digital services with confidence

Build DIT’s commercial and contract management capability

How we will achieve this:

• align ourselves to the Government Commercial Function Operating Standards and become a leading Whitehall commercial function

• build the capabilities of the commercial team and develop commercial know-how across the department through training and development

• improve customer experience and streamline our processes and procedures, ensuring the focus is on adding value in the most critical areas for the department

• continue to grow our sponsorship capabilities and revenues

Work across DIT to build a diverse and inclusive, international economic department, capable of delivering ministerial priorities and its ambitious trade and prosperity agenda

How we will achieve this:

• ensure the organisation is the right shape and size to deliver our departmental objectives up to Brexit and beyond, to deliver an independent trade policy for the UK and to help businesses take advantage of trade and investment opportunities

• build the workforce required for the future, which is expert, enterprising, engaged and inclusive

• develop our functional capability to support a global operation with a diverse workforce, utilising the support of cross-government specialist services, such as the Government Recruitment Service, to deliver effectively

• continue to invest in apprenticeships and the Fast Stream, and in developing DIT’s talent pipeline

• develop effective and innovative trading programmes, drawing on international expertise, and business experience, and continue to develop the new International Trade Profession to build a world-class trade capability

• work to ensure that public appointments made by DIT contribute to realising the ambition that by 2022, 50% of all public appointees are female and 14% of all public appointments made are from ethnic minorities

Ensure DIT is a ‘great place to work’ that is safe, secure, sustainable and supportive

How we will achieve this:

• work with Government Property Agency (GPA) to deliver our strategic asset management plan, looking to consolidate our London footprint and maximise the use of our wider UK estate

• create and maintain policies to support the department operating in a secure, information compliant and safe way

• promote an information and physical security culture, and investigate breaches and incidents regarding physical and information security in a timely manner

Ensure finance informs decision making across the department and government

How we will achieve this:

• provide expert advice and management information, and ensure secure funding, appropriate resource allocation and stewardship, and value for money decision-making

• continue to ensure DIT is compliant with HMT regulation and good practice

• develop and implement the new Shared Services Programme to simplify staff recruitment, buy goods and services, reclaim expenses and extract credible management information

Measure and evaluate how well DIT policies and services are achieving their goals for the UK, developing a strong base of evidence and analysis to support UK prosperity and economic growth

How we will achieve this:

• develop a strong evidence base, in DIT and across government, to help to shape policies and operational delivery, which supports trade as a driver of prosperity

• deliver robust analysis, continually seeking to improve the quality and use of data on trade

• manage and balance rapid-response support requests with long-term in-depth analytical research, to support the department’s objectives

Help build the project delivery community in DIT, operating as a trusted adviser, supporting projects to deliver in line with DIT’s strategic objectives and raising the level of capability within the department

How we will achieve this:

• ensure DIT’s change portfolio includes programmes and projects that deliver its strategy, and coordinate proportionate assurance of investment proposals

• provide delivery support to teams and manage portfolio-level controls such as reporting, risk management, planning and benefits realisation

• establish a centre of excellence to support delivery and continuous improvement, building and sharing exemplar products and lessons learned

• input into a workforce plan for project delivery to identify the capability of our people involved in projects as well as address shortfalls through targeted recruitment and training interventions

Ensure the department works in the most efficient way possible and in compliance with both UK and International law

How we will achieve this:

• provide advice on contentious legal issues for the department
• ensure that DIT achieves its objectives within the law by working closely with Government Legal Department

Our performance

People survey engagement score

Year	Engagement score
2018	64%
2017	63%
2016	56%

Source: Civil Service People Survey / Release schedule: annually

Representation of female staff, ethnic minority staff and disabled staff

Year	Female	Ethnic minority	Disabled
2018	44.8%	23.3%	10.3%
2017	42.5%	22.7%	11.8%

Source: Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Dashboard / Release schedule: quarterly

Greenhouse gas emissions

Year	Total emissions (tonnes of CO2e)
2017/2018	997

Source: DIT Annual Reports and Accounts 2017 to 2018

Public Value Framework

To support the delivery of our objectives, we will be improving our performance against the Public Value Framework in the following areas:

1. Understanding vision and goals.
2. Implementing planning and monitoring progress.
3. Capacity to evaluate impact.
4. Developing system capacity.

Our equality objectives

We have set objectives to help us advance equality. These are:

1. Ensure that the DIT ‘Spirit’ - Expert, Enterprising, Engaged and Inclusive - is reflected at all times in our work.
2. Ensure that the benefits of trade and investment (growth, job creation, wealth creation and productivity) are felt by both businesses and citizens across the whole of the UK.
3. Promote equality in our core policy work, such as delivering on the UK’s commitment to take a gender-responsive approach to trade and investment.
4. Create a diverse and representative workplace, one that will attract talented people from all backgrounds, and give everyone, including those already working for us, the opportunity to achieve their potential.
5. Create and maintain a diverse workforce that better reflects the customers we serve.
6. Create a working environment that values difference and fosters an inclusive workplace culture where DIT employees from all backgrounds can give their best, are treated fairly, are valued for their contributions, and can progress their careers.

Our finances

Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL): £502.7 million

Resource DEL (including depreciation): £488.3 million

Capital DEL: £14.4 million

Annually Managed Expenditure (AME): £3 million

Control totals included in this document are in line with those presented in the Main Supply Estimates 2019/20 and are currently subject to Parliamentary approval. Any changes arising from the Parliamentary approval process will be reflected in due course.

Source: Main Supply Estimates 2019/20.

Our people

As at 30 September 2018, DIT had 1,560 employees working in the UK, not including its agencies (headcount; includes staff on payroll).

Source: ONS public sector employment data / Release schedule: quarterly

As at 30 September 2018, DIT also had 1,311 staff working overseas (headcount; includes locally employed staff, interns and civil servants).

Source: DIT