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From Coventry to Poland: How the “Exporting Starts Here” program helped us launch SLT Gateway
At SLT Media, we’ve spent over a decade helping businesses across the UK build strong brands, grow online, and connect with their audiences. But like many small businesses, we reached a point where growth began to plateau. We weren’t shrinking, but the momentum we once had started to level out. That’s when we knew it was time for a new challenge — and Exporting Starts Here, a programme led by the Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, came at exactly the right time.
We joined the programme with one big idea:
👉 What if we could export our services to Poland — and also support Polish businesses entering the UK market?
A Partnership built on practical support
Under the guidance of Jenny Hooper from Independent Freight Solutions, we explored what “exporting services” really means in practice. While Jenny’s expertise is grounded in product-based logistics, she was incredibly supportive and adaptable, helping Paulina explore how service businesses like ours can scale internationally.
Through workshops and hands-on sessions, we gained valuable insights — from marketing strategy to the customs landscape Polish businesses face when entering the UK. This learning helped us take the first major step: the creation of a dedicated platform called SLT Gateway.
Meet SLT Gateway: A Bridge Between Markets
SLT Gateway was born out of everything we learned. It’s more than just a marketing arm — it’s a network. We’ve built partnerships with:
- Independent Freight Solutions – for logistics and customs support
- IMD Corporate – a trusted and award-winning legal firm helping with UK compliance
- EBS Ltd – an established accounting and business advisory firm with strong links in both Poland and the UK
- And more to come!
Together, we provide Polish entrepreneurs with a comprehensive support system — covering everything from website design and branding, to tax advice, logistics, and legal compliance.
Taking the Mission to Poland
To deepen our understanding of the Polish export landscape, Paulina recently travelled to Wrocław to attend a business forum hosted by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH), as part of the Polskie Mosty Technologiczne initiative. It was a fantastic opportunity to gather insights, meet SMEs and regional institutions, and better understand the challenges Polish companies face when considering international expansion.
The event was full of value — especially in terms of cultural context and support available through EU-funded export initiatives. It also reinforced the importance of strategic marketing and localisation, which is exactly what SLT Gateway was built to support.
The trip left Paulina inspired, informed, and more determined than ever to continue developing our network and services for Polish businesses looking to thrive in the UK.
What’s Next?
SLT Gateway is just getting started, but we’re in this for the long run. We plan to expand our partnerships, we launched educational content, including podcasts, and we will create resources to help businesses on both sides of the border.
A Huge Thank You
To the team at Exporting Starts Here — thank you. Your support didn’t just inspire a new idea — it helped us build a whole new direction for our business. We’re excited to see what’s next.
