THE United Kingdom Trade & Partnerships (UKTP) Programme, funded by the UK Government and executed by the International Trade Centre (ITC), has successfully concluded its second cohort of its integrated digital tools and export digital marketing clinic for women entrepreneurs.

Held February 19-20 and February 25-26, the four-day workshop brought together 50 Jamaican women entrepreneurs for intensive, hands-on training aimed at opening doors to the UK export market.

The workshop, a core component of the UKTP Programme’s commitment to inclusive economic growth across the Caribbean, equipped participants with practical digital tools for managing international buyers, structuring export sales pipelines, and crafting compelling, export-ready brand messaging targeted specifically at UK audiences. Upon completion, all 50 participants received certificates of completion from the International Trade Centre, recognising their readiness to compete in international markets.

“This second cohort is a testament to the growing momentum and appetite among Jamaican women entrepreneurs to access global markets,” said Tastey Blackman, programme coordinator, UKTP Programme. “What excites me most is that these women are not just learning, they are building. They are leaving this workshop with real systems, real content, and real strategies to engage UK buyers. This is exactly the kind of transformative support that the UKTP Programme was designed to deliver.”

The programme was structured across two complementary tracks. The first, Digital Tools for Export Market Access, facilitated by Leighton Campbell, guided participants through the setup and use of customer relationship management systems, lead capture and follow-up workflows, marketing automation platforms, e-commerce and online payment solutions, and basic digital record-keeping. The second track, Export Digital Marketing Execution, led by marketing communications professional Danielle Terrelonge, focused on refining brand positioning, identifying ideal UK buyer profiles, mapping digital sales funnels, and producing export-oriented marketing content during the sessions themselves.

By the close of the workshop, participants had developed operational digital systems, clearly defined export buyer targets, and draft marketing assets tailored to the export market with practical outputs that position them to generate and manage international leads from day one. The initiative directly addresses persistent barriers to export readiness faced by women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Jamaica, including limited digital infrastructure, weak online positioning for international audiences, and gaps in structured marketing execution.

“This workshop is part of the much broader commitment of the UK Government to strengthen trade opportunities, competitiveness and inclusive growth across the Caribbean, especially here in Jamaica,” said Lorcan O’Brien, Caribbean Regional Trade for Development advisor, UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, who delivered opening remarks on the first day of the workshop.

The success of the second cohort underscores the UKTP Programme’s ongoing dedication to strengthening women’s economic empowerment and expanding MSME participation in international trade. The programme continues to signal the UK’s strong partnership with Jamaica in building an inclusive, digitally enabled export economy.