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Programme

Mayor of London’s International Business Programme[2022]

Access to Markets

Impact for scaleups

1,340+

businesses supported since the programme started

5,367

jobs created

£142.5m

new international deals

£155.9m

increased GVA

£6.5bn

investment raised

66

trade missions since 2016

Key sectors

Creative, digital, film, games & media Environmental Science & Technology Finance Life Sciences & Biotech

Now in its seventh year, the Mayor’s International Business Programme (MIBP) continues to support some of the Capital’s fastest growing companies to access new markets across the globe. Launched by London & Partners in 2016 the programme is widely recognised as a high quality export programme and has helped London based tech companies become recognised brands in their fields.

The programme is open to London based scaling businesses in the finance, business services and tech; Creative; Urban innovation; and life sciences sectors.  These fast growing businesses should also employ between 10 and 249 workers and be generating revenues of at least £1m per annum, or the equivalent in funding (or a combination of both) as well as demonstrate steady growth with active projects, domestically or internationally.

The free 12-month programme is individually tailored towards each business, providing support and advice for international expansion success. It offers practical advice and on-the-ground support, both in London and in global markets.

During the Covid-19 lockdown MIBP switched to online workshops to remain engaged and relevant to business needs and challenges. This has now evolved into a hybrid approach, harnessing the benefits of both online and in person models. 

This year also saw a return to in person events and trade missions including a Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage (REACH) mission to Chicago for underrepresented founders delivered in partnership with the Manchester Growth Hub. The weeklong event forged vital connections into the US market with fourteen diverse scaleup founders from London and Manchester meeting Fortune 500 companies, investors accelerators and economic development agencies as well as fellow founders. This included face to face time with Boeing, Google and JP Morgan. 

In May 2022 MIBP’s Creative Tech Mission to Los Angeles introduced 13 London scaleups to top US creative companies including Walt Disney, Universal Pictures and Verizon and gave them the opportunity to pitch to these large corporates. The past year has seen a total of 10 trade missions – three were virtual and seven face to face – supporting 117 scaleups.

The programme’s new Female Founder series creates a community of ambitious leaders and features inspirational speakers drawn from across the ecosystem. These include AMS Founder and CEO Rosaleen Blair CBE and Aarti Samnani, Executive Leader and former CEO of IProov, along with Allyson Stewart-Allen of International Marketing Partners and Jani Guest of Creators Inc.

Since its launch in 2016 MIBP has supported more than 1,300 scaleups and run 66 trade missions. Future plans focus on further developing its role supporting scaleups’ export ambitions. 

 

“The REACH mission helped us open doors that we never would have thought possible in such a short space of time. Albeit we already had a handful of US clients, this mission enabled us to begin conversations with major players such as Wells Fargo and Comcast, and secure major contracts delivering Inclusion and Leadership programmes with US giants, Walmart.” Gori Yahaya, CEO and Founder – UpSkill Digital

 

“Following the initial introduction facilitated by the REACH trade mission, we are now in discussions with a major retail brand. We have had other great successes off the back of REACH, including building relationships with the DIT and becoming members of GBx. The mission exceeded expectations and broadened our horizons and access to a REACH community that really wants to make a difference around diversity and inclusion.” May Al-Karooni, CEO and Founder – Globechain

Mayor of London’s International Business Programme[2022] website