IWMA - International Wire & Machinery Association

UKTI

TAP Grants for 2010/2011 Financial Year

The International Wire & Machinery Association (IWMA) and its sister organisation the International Tube Association have secured some government grant assistance for qualifying UK exhibitors at a number of trade fairs in the next financial year. These are limited and will be allocated on a first come (and UKTI approved) first served basis. All grants, whether for wire or tube exhibitions will be allocated through the IWMA.

Grants are available for the amount indicated for the following exhibitions:

  • Tekno/Tube Arabia 2011, Dubai, 8-11 January 2011, £1,400

If you are interested in participating in any of the above exhibitions either with or without UKTI support please contact the IWMA as soon as possible.

Further Important Changes to the TAP Grant System for UK Exhibitors

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) announce further changes to the TAP grant system. For details of the new criteria explained in a letter from Ron Archibald of UKTI please click here.

UKTI, the department of government responsible for the TAP exhibitor grant system, has announced changes to the conditions.  The key points are as follows:

  • Additional grant lives for companies who have been supported already up to the maximum of three times. One extra grant per financial year will now be available for “core events” (eg, shows in emerging markets* or those designated “key events” by UKTI). 
  • Simpler eligibility criteria for experienced exporters: small/medium enterprises (SME’s) who are above the “new-to-export” threshold will be eligible for support at exhibitions in the UKTI approved programme provided that they have not participated in the previous edition of the show.
  • The application procedure will be streamlined.  From now on only the first TAP grant application from a business need be sent to the region for approval.  Subsequent applications can be sent directly to UKTI in Glasgow, via the IWMA office.-, but must be copied electronically to the regional contact.
  • UKTI guidelines for eligibility for TAP grants are:
  • Enterprise has products or services that originate or are substantially produced in the UK, or
  • Demonstrates that it is adding significant value to any product or service of non-UK origin, or
  • Demonstrates that it is enhancing its competitiveness and that there is tangible economic benefit to the UK from the trade development activity, product and service.

*Emerging Markets
The UKTI list of emerging markets contains the following countries: China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Brazil, Gulf Co-operation Council (UAE plus Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia), Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.

Eligibility, Terms, Conditions and New Application Form for TAP Grants

UKTI has prepared an eligibility “flow chart” to explain the basic criteria for organisations wishing to apply for a Trade Access Programme (TAP) grant.  Please click here for the flow chart (PDF).

The full list of “Terms and Conditions for Exhibitors” runs to 10 pages and can be read or downloaded here (PDF).

Following the just-announced changes to the TAP system UKTI has produced an amended application form (PDF). This form must be used from 1 November 2009 for all applications for grants and the new streamlined procedure followed.  If applying for a grant for one of the exhibitions for which funding has been secured by the IWMA or ITA please remember to send the form to the IWMA in the first instance.  (The IWMA is the UKTI’s nominated “Accredited Trade Organisation”, or ATO, for wire and cable and tube and pipe exhibitions overseas).