The UK Government’s Made in the UK, Sold to the World roadshow arrived in Edinburgh this week, celebrating Scottish expertise in financial, professional, and business services – and helping
local firms take their skills global.
The event brought together Scottish exporters, trade experts, and international buyers, offering small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) tailored support to help them expand overseas.
Blair McDougall, Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation, opened the event with a keynote speech highlighting the strength of Scotland’s service industries. He also encouraged more small firms to take advantage of government-backed export support.
DBT Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation, Blair McDougall said:
“Scottish businesses are known for providing world-class Financial and Professional services, and this roadshow will be an excellent opportunity to showcase that talent and connect businesses with new international partners, opening the door to new markets.
“Export success and the professional and business services sector are key to the government’s Industrial Strategy and Plan for Change, which will drive growth and create well-paid jobs. That is why we are doing everything we can to support our small and medium sized businesses to grow and succeed.”
Why exports matter
Exports are central to the UK Government’s growth plans. Businesses that sell overseas are, on average:
- 28.5% more productive than non-exporters
- Pay 7% higher wages
- Support around a fifth of UK jobs
With Scotland already exporting billions in services each year – particularly to the US and Europe – the roadshow included a dedicated workshop on cracking the American market.
Support for Scottish SMEs
The Edinburgh event showcased a wide range of government-backed support through the **Small Business Plan** – from expanded UK Export Finance to the Business Growth Service. Attendees also got direct access to commercial officers, international buyers, and successful Export Champions who shared their expertise.
One of those champions was **Myles Stephenson, CEO of Modulr**, an Edinburgh-based payments platform that has grown into one of the UK’s fastest-growing tech companies with global reach. He shared insights on scaling internationally and seizing new opportunities.
Scotland’s strength in services
Scotland’s financial, professional, and business services sector is thriving – from major players like the Royal Bank of Scotland to innovative SMEs such as Predictiva. Nationwide, the sector contributes around £300 billion annually and supports one in every seven jobs.
The government’s Plan for Change aims to build on this success by:
- Creating five new centres of excellence, including one in Glasgow, to help firms adopt new technology
- Expanding support through UK Export Finance to help businesses win overseas contracts
- Cementing the UK’s status as the second-largest services exporter in the world
Looking ahead
As McDougall toured the event, meeting businesses across law, insurance, and financial technology, the focus was clear: helping Scotland’s SMEs thrive internationally while boosting growth at home.
With backing from government and inspiration from success stories like Modulr, the message from Edinburgh was simple – Scottish businesses have the talent, innovation, and support they need to make their mark on the global stage.
Myles Stephenson, Export Champion and Founder & CEO at Modulr, said:
“International expansion is a fantastic opportunity for Scottish firms to scale and achieve significant growth.
“At Modulr we’ve worked hard and invested to navigate the challenges of expanding into new markets but know it’s not easy and would like more firms to start or increase their exporting activity.
“By sharing our experience we’d like to encourage more firms to start or increase their export activity. Accessing the support is a key enabler and critical item to consider when entering overseas markets - the Department for Business Trade can help navigate this.”