The UK Fashion and Textile Association is the most inclusive network for UK fashion and textile companies. We work
with designers, manufacturers, government, agents and buyers to promote Great British fashion and textiles.
GUIDELINES TO UK TRADE & INVESTMENT TRADE SHOW ACCESS PROGRAMME (TAP)
GRANT SUPPORTED INTERNATIONAL TRADE SHOWS FOR THE 2012/13 FINANCIAL YEAR
(FASHION & ACCESSORIES)
CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE GRANT SCHEME RECENTLY – SO PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE
APPLYING FOR A GRANT.
The UK Trade & Investment rules on the TAP (Tradeshow Access Programme) grant eligibility can seem complicated.
We have tried to interpret them logically for you and to condense them into two pages. If anything is still unclear
please don’t hesitate to call us on 020 7843 9460.
THE TAP SCHEME FROM APRIL 2012 ONWARDS
 From April 2009 the slate was wiped clean and eligible companies now receive a lifetime global allocation of 6
grants, provided this is spread over at least 2 markets.
UKFT have won a special concession for our industry in that companies may still use their total allowance of 6 grants
for shows in Europe. From now on companies in other sectors are obliged to use at least 3 of their grants in emerging
and high growth markets outside Europe. These comprise: Brazil, China, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Mexico, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, S Africa, S Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, Vietnam and
Hong Kong. We won this concession on the basis that, unlike other sectors, fashion and textiles do not currently have
internationally important exhibitions located in these markets and that buyers from these markets do attend the key
international shows. UKFT will be promoting UK fashion and textiles to visitors from these countries at the
international exhibitions.
To be eligible for a grant, companies must:
be a UK based business (but you don’t have to be a limited company)
be a small or medium size enterprise (SME) as defined below
be a new exporter as defined below OR have exported for no more than 10 years *
not have received grants of any kind totaling more than €200,000 over any rolling 3 year period
not receive any other contributions from public funds towards the costs of exhibiting
not have been fully committed to showing prior to seeking the UKTI grant
demonstrate, if required to, that they are selling products originating substantially in the UK or that they are adding
significant value to a product of non-UK origin or are enhancing their competitiveness and providing tangible economic
benefit to the UK from this trade development activity.
h) must not have received since April 09, been offered, or have a pending application for more than 5 grants prior to the
grant currently being applied for.
i) must take up any non-chargeable offers of assistance made by the Trade Association or the UKTI regional network
that are intended to be complementary to the offer of trade show support.
j) own the brand they are selling or prove that they have permission to export the brand
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
* If you have been exporting for more than 10 years and have total exports of above 25% of your turnover, you
will still qualify for a grant if you have not shown at the previous edition of the event. For example, if this
applies to you and you would like to apply for a grant to show at Pitti Uomo in January 2013, you may do so if you did
not show at the June 2012 edition.
Special note for start ups: Whilst there are no hard and fast rules in the TAP scheme against supporting
brand new businesses (“start ups”), in practice some of the UKTI regions are reluctant to agree to grants for
brand new companies because they have no track record. Some regions may take prior commercial
experience in the industry into account but other regions may not. UKFT is working with UKTI to try to clarify
and resolve this issue. In the meantime, those of you who have brand new businesses are advised to contact
us before filling in your grant application forms as you will need to put together a strong case for support,
including a business plan.
DEFINITIONS
An outline of the definitions follows. Please call us if you have any questions. Full UKTI Terms & Conditions are also
available on request.
 An SME (Small or Medium Sized Enterprise):a) Has fewer than 250 employees
b) Has an annual turnover not exceeding 50m Euros or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding 43m
Euros
c) Is independent. This means that not more than 25% of its capital or voting rights is owned by one enterprise, or
jointly by several enterprises, which fail to meet any of the above points (a & b), although this threshold may be
exceeded in certain circumstances. Please ask us for further information if required.
 NEW EXPORTERS are defined as having to less than 10% of turnover resulting from proactive exports during the last
12 months (sales to new overseas customers that have been actively identified by the business) and no more than
25% of turnover resulting from a combination of proactive and reactive exports. Reactive exports would normally
result from unplanned approaches from potential overseas customers and from UK-based third parties, or from
overseas responses to UK-focused web sites.
WHAT IS THE GRANT?
 A flat rate grant of £1,000 for European shows and £1,200 for New York shows will be paid to eligible applicants
on the basis of matching funds. ie. to be eligible for a £1,000 grant you must be able to provide evidence of
eligible expenditure amounting to at least £2,000 or £2,400 if you are claiming a £1,200 grant. In the unlikely
event that the stand payment is insufficient to qualify for a grant, related expenses, such as transportation of samples,
display aids/graphics etc. may also be taken into consideration. Please ask if you need further information on this.
HOW DOES THE SYSTEM WORK?
 You must apply for a grant as soon as you know you want to show. Do not wait until you have received
confirmation of space from the relevant show organisers. There is limited funding and numbers for each event
WILL BE CAPPED so you are urged to apply as early as possible. The deadline for applicants new to the scheme is 8
weeks before the start of the show (5 weeks before the show if you have previously been approved for a TAP grant)
but, in most cases if you leave it until then there will be no grants left!
 You complete the UKFT application form, together with the UK Trade & Investment TAP grant application form, and
send them both back to UKFT with your payment (see below). We forward the latter to a UKTI International Trade
Team Advisor (ITA) in your region. The ITA will contact you to discuss your eligibility and will then give us a “no” or a
provisional “yes”. We then send your form to the UKTI Head Office in Glasgow who will double check your eligibility
and let us have an answer.
 At each event, UKFT will be conducting marketing activities to promote the British exhibitors for which a charge per
company of £240 + VAT will be made. This must be sent together with the application. If UK Trade & Investment
deems you are not eligible and/or if you do not get space at the show (and let us know at least 6 weeks before
the event), this fee will be returned to you.
 Government support takes the form of a reimbursement so you must pay for your stand in advance. After the exhibition
you must provide us with proof of payment within one month of the exhibition and you will be required to complete a
brief questionnaire after the close of the exhibition. The reimbursement should come through, at the latest, around 3
months after the exhibition has taken place; earlier if all participants provide us with proof of payment promptly.
Important note: When sending applications to show organisers, please be sure to read all contracts and
terms & conditions. There have been a number of cases recently where UK companies have sent completed
application forms to organisers without payment, not realising that they have signed a contract which is
legally binding. If you sign a contract to show and you then pull out, you are often liable not only for the
deposit but for the full amount, whether or not you show and, of course, you will not be able to claim a UKTI
grant.
UKFT TEL 020 7843 9460 [email protected] www.ukft.org
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