Professor Christopher Bovis joins MAP as an Adviser
MAP is delighted to announce that Professor Chris Bovis (JD, MPhil, LLM, FRSA) has joined as an Adviser, bringing decades of experience and expertise to support MAP’s work on public procurement and Environmental & Social Value.
Chris is the H.K. Bevan Chair in Law and Professor of European Business Law at the University of Hull, as well as Managing Editor of the European Procurement & Public Private Partnership Law Review. He is an internationally recognised authority on EU public procurement and public-private partnerships, and his work has shaped significant legislative and policy frameworks, notably contributing to the UK’s Social Value Act, the European Public Services Directive, and the formulation of Section 106 in the UK.
He has been instrumental in shifting procurement practices away from a narrow focus on cost, towards an approach that integrates socio-economic factors, advising public bodies on how best to embed Social Value in infrastructure projects. Through extensive collaboration with governments and industry, Chris has provided evidence to House of Commons select committees, offering strategic insights into procurement, rail infrastructure, and public service delivery.
A highly published author whose writing is translated into multiple languages, Chris continues to guide policymakers across the UK and EU, underscoring procurement’s potential to deliver value for money and meaningful public benefit.
By bringing in his expert knowledge, MAP is able to strengthen its offer to its clients and partners.
MAP strengthens the resilience, sustainability and growth of the entities it works for. MAP does this through International Trade and Supply Chain solutions that advise, inform and connect: buyers, suppliers, investors and stakeholders. MAP is increasingly focused on, and aligned with, the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
For more information, please contact MAP via: info@mapukinternational.com.
MAP assists UK companies to export to Europe
MAP has supported a further 80 companies to explore new export opportunities and overcome market access barriers in Europe. This includes facilitating connections with the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) International Markets Europe Team and the UK Export Academy.
Every year, the UK sells more than £350 billion of goods and services to customers in Europe. Major markets include France, Germany and Spain and account for a combined total of more than £120 billion in UK exports. In 2024, the EU accounted for 41% of the UK’s exports.
Since Brexit, the UK’s and EU trading landscape has changed, but European countries are still amongst UK’s closest and strongest trading partners.
Since the EU’s General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) came into effect on 13 December 2024, which replaced the current General Product Safety Directive (GPSD), this new regulation has introduced significant updates aimed at enhancing the safety of consumer goods sold both online and offline across Europe.
The recent EU-UK trade deal, signed in May this year, has also opened up greater opportunities for UK companies in the region.
DBT’s International Markets Europe Team supports export-ready SMEs, offering access to a range of sector reports, market intelligence, and guides related to exporting to over 30 markets. UK Export Academy is a free training programme from DBT for UK businesses looking to grow their international sales.
MAP’s works closely with a range of partners and stakeholders around the world, including via its role advising Made in Britain on international trade and supply chains. Made in Britain is a trade association with a growing membership, now of 2,200 UK manufacturing companies
MAP strengthens the resilience, sustainability and growth of the entities it works for. MAP does this through International Trade and Supply Chain solutions that advise, inform and connect: buyers, suppliers, investors and stakeholders. MAP is increasingly focused on, and aligned with, the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
For more information, please contact MAP via: info@mapukinternational.com.
MAP supports UK companies’ expansion into the US and Canada
MAP has supported a further 80 companies to explore new export opportunities and overcome market access barriers in the US and Canada through partnering with the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) International Markets Hub Team and the UK Export Academy.
The US remains the UK’s largest export market for goods and services, and the world’s largest economy. In the four quarters to the end of Q3 2024, UK exports to the US totalled £182.6 billion. The return of President Trump to the White House in January 2025 has brought renewed attention to domestic industry, trade policy, and economic security. At the same time, the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal, signed in May this year, opens up opportunities for UK businesses, along with a shared language and relatively low regulatory barriers.
Canada, while a smaller market, is the UK’s 12th largest export destination, with £16.4 billion in UK exports over the same period. Its close proximity to the US, demand for UK-made products, and openness to high-quality, sustainable manufacturing make it a valuable and strategic market for British exporters looking to expand across North America.
DBT’s International Markets Hub supports export-ready SMEs, offering access to a range of sector reports, market intelligence, and guides related to exporting to markets across the world. UK Export Academy is a free training programme from DBT for UK businesses looking to grow their international sales.
MAP works closely with a range of partners and stakeholders around the world, including via its role advising Made in Britain on international trade and supply chains. Made in Britain is a trade association with a growing membership, now of 2,200 UK manufacturing companies.
MAP strengthens the resilience, sustainability and growth of the entities it works for. MAP does this through International Trade and Supply Chain solutions that advise, inform and connect: buyers, suppliers, investors and stakeholders. MAP is increasingly focused on, and aligned with, the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
For more information, please contact MAP via: info@mapukinternational.com.
MAP Director chairs conference on the UK’s Small Business Strategy
In his role as Associate Programme Director at Wilton Park, MAP Director George Middleton designs, convenes and facilitates policy events focusing on international trade, resilience and growth.
The Small Business Strategy conference in March 2025 provided space for UK businesses, academics and policymakers to come together to discuss the strategy, which was announced at the Autumn Budget 2024 with the objective of supporting and growing SMEs.
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) published its Plan for Small and Medium Sized Businesses in July 2025 and, alongside it, launch the new Business Growth Service – a simplified route to government support for all small and medium sized businesses across the UK. Held in partnership between Wilton Park and the UK government, this event was a staging post to both the Plan, incorporating policy areas such as access to finance and entrepreneurship, and the Service, shaping them in collaboration with participants.
George brings his experience in both the public and private sector to support Wilton Park’s core objective of bringing together experts and policy-makers to address the most complex global challenges.
For more information, please make contact via: info@mapukinternational.com.
MAP brings UK companies together with the Crown Commercial Service
MAP has connected more than 75 UK companies with the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) to discuss navigating CCS procurement processes and the vital role of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in public procurement projects.
The CCS is the UK’s biggest public procurement organisation, managing and simplifying the procurement process for the government departments and public sector organisations it represents. Its main role is to help the public sector maximise every pound so precious resources can go where they’re needed most.
In 2023/24, CCS customers achieved commercial benefits equal to £4.9 billion. Commercial benefits include factors such as cost savings and reaching carbon net zero targets.
Supplying through CCS offers the following benefits:
Access to 20,000 public sector buyers.
Opportunities across 83 categories of common goods and services, from construction to energy and research.
A simplified procurement process that promotes transparency and fair competition.
Prompt payment policy implementation.
MAP has facilitated engagement in areas including accessing and navigating public sector tenders, how businesses can introduce new or innovative products into procurement frameworks, and the contribution of UK-made products to social value.
MAP’s work with the CCS comes via its role advising Made in Britain on supply chains. Made in Britain is a trade association with a growing membership, now of more than 2,100 UK manufacturing companies.
MAP strengthens the resilience, sustainability and growth of the entities it works for. MAP does this through International Trade and Supply Chain solutions that advise, inform and connect: buyers, suppliers, investors and stakeholders. MAP is increasingly focused on, and aligned with, the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
For more information, please contact MAP via: info@mapukinternational.com.