Policy Pulse: Samir Dwesar, Santander UK

As part of a new series of interviews, we speak to some of the UK's key small business advocates and policymakers.

This week, it's the turn of Samir Dwesar, senior public affairs and public policy manager, Santander UK.

Who is Samir?

For nearly three years, Samir has been championing SME international trade policy at Santander UK.

There, his mission is to help small businesses break through export barriers and tap into global markets.

Working from London while serving as a Conservative councillor in Croydon, Samir splits his time between addressing international trade challenges, supporting SMEs and promoting inward investment.

His focus comes at a critical time for the UK's small businesses, who are facing mounting pressures around exporting.

Santander's latest research

In Santander's recent Spring Trade Barometer, 63% of UK companies said rising tariffs posed a significant risk to their growth.

At the same time, 80% of large UK businesses (those with 250 or more employees) that are looking to expand overseas cite tariffs as a key threat.

Yet over half (52%) of UK businesses are prioritising international trade as a major driver of growth. That's a 5% rise since Spring 2024 and more than double the 21% recorded in 2021.

According to Samir, the stark reality is that while SMEs make up 99.8% of the entire business population in the UK, only around 10% currently export internationally.

That's despite growing challenges in the domestic market, such as rising costs, inflation, business tax and energy cost pressures, which businesses continue to be feel quite acutely.

The need for stability and certainty

"Business anxiety remains really, really high," Samir says.

"SMEs need and want stability and certainty because it allows them to plan and make longer-term investment decisions like whether they're going to trade overseas. That's just not happening at the moment."

Santander's Trade Barometer also reveals compelling shifts in trade patterns. Companies are increasingly targeting high-potential markets outside the EU for future growth, such as Australia (46%), Japan (28%) and Nigeria (10%).

Despite that, established trade partners like the US (35%) and Canada (21%) continue to hold strong appeal. Ireland and Italy have fallen out of the top 10 export destinations for the first time since 2022, Samir adds.

Of the businesses already trading internationally, 59% report an improved performance over the past year. In contrast, only 46% of the firms that do business solely in the UK can say the same.

Samir says:

"Time and time again you've got the same concerns coming up, whether it's excessive regulation, high transportation costs or poor signposting from government, all compounded as we approach the Budget."

Netflix for international trade

As part of International Trade Week – for which Santander has a three-year sponsorship deal with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) – the bank launched Navigator Global.

This new platform, which Samir describes as "Netflix for international trade", will expand to over 20 markets by 2029, offering businesses everything from market intelligence to freight booking.

Santander certainly has an impressive track record, claiming to have supported over 2,500 businesses with tapping in to overseas markets since 2019.

Cutting trade regulation

As the government looks for suggestions to help reduce business regulation by 25%, Samir says cutting regulation should be a key priority.

"We're keen to keep feeding in ideas and examples of where there is over-regulation, and demonstrate how this is holding business back and stifling inward investment and exports.

"The government's Small Business Plan highlighted that SMEs could deliver an extra £320 billion to the economy if they grow annually by 1% by 2030.

"As things stand, that goal really isn't likely to be reached. So, we've got to really think about all those enormous challenges that SMEs face."

Santander's own calculations suggest the potential revenue growth for UK SMEs through international expansion could reach £93.5 billion. Yet the barriers remain stubbornly high.

Demand for government assistance has steadily risen, with 33% of businesses calling for tax breaks and 32% seeking less regulation. And according to Santander's Trade Barometer, 29% want more support with identifying the best markets for overseas growth.

A day in the life

Samir's typical day shows the intricate dance of modern corporate policy work.

Of course, at party conferences, his schedule becomes particularly intense, as he orchestrates strategic meetings across the political spectrum to advance Santander's SME agenda.

Samir says that the recent Labour Party Conference provided good exposure to the new small business minister, Blair MacDougall, whose team conducted a roundtable with the City minister, Lucy Rigby.

Samir himself held discussions with the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Lord Livermore. There were also meetings with key players like Liam Byrne, Chairman of the Business and Trade Select Committee.

The cross-party approach is deliberate. At the Conservative Party Conference, Samir was invited to a dinner with a Conservative member of the Business and Trade Committee, ensuring Santander's voice reaches decision-makers regardless of political allegiance.

Beyond the political party conferences, his regular engagement encompasses the Department for Business and Trade, HM Treasury, the Business and Trade Committee, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Trade and Investment and more.

"We hosted a trade fair in Parliament in September," he says, describing an event where 30 to 35 MPs met SMEs that Santander supports. "It was a real opportunity for businesses to showcase the great work they're doing."

Through membership bodies like CityUK (which represents financial and related professional services), the CBI and Enterprise Nation, Samir amplifies these messages across a number of channels.

As a councillor in Croydon, he too is facing challenges.

"My main work is around planning and regeneration, but we're also in financial difficulty as a council, so fixing the finances is a real key priority. But most of the work I do is supporting my local residents so they're getting the services that they deserve."

Trade internationally without the usual friction

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