More than 40 export-ready British small businesses will pitch live to Indian buyers next week, as the Great British Pitch returns for 2026 with a sharpened focus on international growth, and a Downing Street reception hosted by the Chancellor to mark the occasion.
The UK-India event, taking place in central London on 16 June, is the opening fixture in this year’s Great British Pitch series, led by Small Business Britain with support from the Department for Business and Trade. It is designed to convert the political momentum behind the UK-India Free Trade Agreement, and the Prime Minister’s trade delegation to Mumbai last year, into tangible orders for the UK’s 5.7 million small firms.
The case for intervention is stark. Small businesses make up 99 per cent of all UK firms and account for roughly half of private sector turnover, yet government figures published in September 2025 show just 17 per cent currently export at all. Of those that do trade internationally, only 12 per cent sell into India, a striking gap given the scale of one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. It is a familiar story: smaller exporters have repeatedly warned they are being left behind while larger firms surge ahead on the back of new trade agreements.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said the event demonstrated that “Britain is open for business”, adding: “Our landmark trade deal with India is unlocking new opportunities in every corner of the country, from retail and consumer goods companies in the South West to whisky distilleries in Scotland. British small businesses sit at the heart of our growth mission, and backing them to export and grow is how we are building a more dynamic, more resilient economy.”
The entrepreneurs taking part — handpicked from sectors including food and drink, retail and consumer goods, will receive tailored training and coaching before pitching via livestream to an audience of Indian buyers. The gathering will also bring together senior representatives from the UK and Indian governments, trade bodies and leading corporates.
Michelle Ovens CBE, founder of Small Business Britain and adviser to the government’s Board of Trade, said the timing was right for ambitious firms to look east. “As one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, India offers significant potential for the UK’s 5.7 million small businesses looking to grow internationally,” she said. “As trade ties continue to strengthen, it’s more important than ever that we support UK entrepreneurs in exploring new markets, building valuable partnerships and expanding overseas.”
Trade policy minister Chris Bryant struck a similarly practical note: “Knowing an opportunity exists and seizing it are two different things, that’s exactly why the Great British Pitch India is about making sure our businesses have the platform to take advantage of our landmark deal. From cosmetics to whisky, the potential for UK small businesses is enormous and we will work tirelessly to help them succeed.”
The push comes amid warnings from MPs that the tariff gains promised by the UK-India deal could be put at risk by cuts to export support staff, making practical, buyer-facing initiatives of this kind all the more significant for smaller firms without the resources to navigate India’s administrative complexity alone.
India is only the first stop. Great British Pitch USA follows in September, before the flagship Great British Pitch event during International Trade Week connects small businesses with buyers, trade experts and investors in markets across the world.
For those who have already taken the plunge, the value is clear. Hepsie Goddin, co-founder of Sheffield and Devon-based gift and homeware business Martha and Hepsie, who took part in last year’s event, said: “Spending time with such wise and generous business minds and politicians reminded us just how powerful ambition can be, and that the world is full of opportunity if you’re brave enough to reach for it.”
