Export Partners
Export Partners is a UK-based research firm founded in 1991 that helps British manufacturers — typically of niche technical products — identify and vet suitable distributors and agents in overseas markets through multi-month, multi-country research exercises.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersHalifax, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Export Partners does
Export Partners is a privately held UK research company founded in 1991 and headquartered at Dean Clough, Halifax, West Yorkshire. The firm helps UK businesses — primarily manufacturers of niche technical products — identify and vet suitable distributors and agents in overseas markets. Each engagement is structured as a 4-6 month exercise targeting 4-6 countries, combining broad-based research using up to 20 information sources per country with targeted detective-led research examining partners of competitors, partners of compatible non-competing firms, and partners of principals of the client's existing distributors.
The service delivery is human-led and manual, with no software product, platform, or AI tooling disclosed. The methodology produces a candidate database with an 'A-List' subset of particularly suitable companies, which the client vets before making direct approaches. The firm explicitly positions itself as research rather than consultancy, with clients theoretically able to perform the work themselves if they had the time.
The go-to-market is sales-led and low-friction: a free 5-minute initial telephone or email discussion, a 30-minute no-obligation exploratory Teams/Zoom meeting, and a free demonstration of the process using live distributor examples. Pricing is not publicly disclosed but combines minimal upfront fees with optional performance-based finder's fees tied to results, billed across multi-month contracts. No external funding, M&A activity, partnerships, certifications, or management team disclosures appear in the available data, and the firm's digital presence — a WordPress website with blog archives last updated in October 2020 — shows no recent content or channel investment.
Export Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Export Partners
- Legal name
- Export Partners
- Website
- https://exportpartners.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Export Partners is a UK-based research firm founded in 1991 that helps British manufacturers — typically of niche technical products — identify and vet suitable distributors and agents in overseas markets through multi-month, multi-country research exercises.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Export Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Export Market Research Services
- NAICS
- Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers (4251), Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers (425)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Export Promotion & Market Access Support (BPADAMAC)
Keywords
Where Export Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Halifax
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Export Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Research Services: Export Partners charges upfront costs for research exercises that are kept at minimal levels, with exercises typically lasting 4-6 months and targeting 4-6 countries. The company can also include a finder's fee payment against results generated.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom research exercises with minimal upfront costs and performance-based finder's fees |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Export Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Export Partners is a UK-based research firm that helps British companies develop overseas markets by identifying and vetting potential distributors and agents in target countries. Each research exercise typically spans 4-6 months and targets 4-6 countries, combining broad-based research using up to 20 information sources per country with detective-led research targeting competitors' partners and compatible non-competing manufacturers. The output is a vetted short-list of suitable partner candidates that the client can directly approach for cooperation discussions.
Product overview
Export Partners is a research consultancy, not a software product company. It offers services to help UK businesses identify overseas distributors and agents through research-based exercises. The company was founded in 1991 and operates from Dean Clough, Halifax. No distinct branded software products, modules, or platforms were identified in the source data.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Overseas Market Research Exercise
Quantifiable outcome
- Research exercises result in client receiving more enquiries than they can cope with
Companies that use Export Partners
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Export Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Export Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Export Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Intralink: UK-headquartered international market entry consultancy that helps companies identify partners, customers, and distribution channels in overseas markets — directly comparable service to Export Partners, though typically more scaled and tech-oriented.
- OCO Global: International trade and export consultancy supporting companies in identifying overseas partners and market opportunities. Overlaps with Export Partners' partner-identification offering for UK and European exporters.
- Meridian International Group: International trade and market entry consultancy helping companies develop overseas distribution networks and identify in-market partners, comparable in core service offering to Export Partners.
Broad incumbents
- UK Department for Business and Trade: UK government department (formerly DIT) providing free export support and overseas market introduction services to UK businesses, competing on price though typically with less bespoke methodology than Export Partners.
Others
- International Trade Centre (ITC): Joint UN/WTO agency supporting SME export readiness and market access in developing markets. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but operates in the same export promotion thematic space.
- British Chambers of Commerce: UK-wide chamber network providing international trade services including export documentation and overseas market introductions to member SMEs — adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.
Regional players
- Italian Trade Agency (ITA): Italian government trade promotion agency supporting Italian exporters' overseas market entry. Geographically distinct but functionally comparable in offering market-access and partner-identification support.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Export Partners social profiles
Digital presenceExport Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Export Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Export Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Export Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Export Partners
What does Export Partners do?
Export Partners is a UK-based research firm that helps British companies develop overseas markets by identifying and vetting potential distributors and agents in target countries. Each research exercise typically spans 4-6 months and targets 4-6 countries, combining broad-based research using up to 20 information sources per country with detective-led research targeting competitors' partners and compatible non-competing manufacturers. The output is a vetted short-list of suitable partner candidates that the client can directly approach for cooperation discussions.
Is Export Partners a public or private company?
Export Partners is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Export Partners founded?
Export Partners was founded in 1991.
Where is Export Partners based?
Export Partners is headquartered in Halifax, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Export Partners make money?
One revenue line is on record: research Services.
Who are Export Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Intralink, OCO Global and Meridian International Group. UK Department for Business and Trade is listed as a broad incumbent. Others are International Trade Centre (ITC) and British Chambers of Commerce. Italian Trade Agency (ITA) is listed as a regional player.
Does Export Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Export Partners.
What industry is Export Partners in?
Export Partners's product category is Export Market Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAMAC, Export Promotion & Market Access Support. Its NAICS code is 4251 and its SIC code is 8742.