Expressions of Interest: Partnership Opportunities at UK House, SXSW 2025

8-11 March 2025

The UK’s Department of Business and Trade (DBT) are working with a range of leading UK Creative Partners to deliver an unforgettable 4-day UK House programme at Palm Door on Sixth, 8 - 11 March 2025 as part of South by Southwest (SXSW) Austin.

There are a limited number of partnership and content opportunities still available across UK House @ SXSW 2025 – register by 15 Jan 2025 for a chance to be involved in this year’s programme.

Why SXSW?

 

  • SXSW Conference & Festival in Austin, Texas celebrates the convergence of interactive, tech, film, advertising and music industries.

  • SXSW attracts a unique global audience of over 220,000 leaders, global brands and influencers from across the creative, tech, education, public policy and innovation sectors, offering a one-off platform to showcase the "modern face" of the UK across UK House.

  • SXSW is the single biggest global US-based creative, interactive and advertising event that engages all parts of the creative technology sector with a worldwide audience.

DBT’s objectives: UK House @ SXSW 2025

 

UK House provides a global platform for DBT to drive forward key ambitions in line with HMG’s Industrial Strategy, including:

  • Unlocking Investment: Attracting an audience of high value US buyers and investors to UK House.

  • Boosting Trade: Hosting c80 UK Creative and Tech companies, comprised of three Official UK Trade Missions, who are looking to expand into US and matching them with prospective buyers.

  • Maximising access to important markets: Providing a platform for c.60 UK music artists to showcase to US Music industry decision makers via the British Music Embassy (BME).

  • Driving economic growth across UK Regions and Nations: DBT will work with industry partners to showcase strengths, R&D and Investment opportunities across UK’s creative hubs.

  • Collaborate with partners to demonstrate that the UK 'See's Things Differently' and offer an alternative, unexpected view of the UK's creative ecosystem.

  • Celebrate and promote the best of UK-US creative collaboration through a series of innovative mashups, thought leadership and global success stories.

Opportunity for Partners @ UK House

 

  • Each year at SXSW, DBT collaborate with a range of UK Partners to transform UK House into a jam-packed 4-day programme of events.

  • UK House will serve as an immersive ‘window’ to the UK - allowing SXSW attendees the opportunity to experience the Best of UK Creative Innovation through a series of thought leadership sessions, live demos, performances, product showcases and networking moments.

  • There are a variety of ways partners can utilise UK House to bring their SXSW ambitions to life. If you are interested in delivering content and activations at UK House as part of DBT’s programme – get in touch by clicking 'Apply Now' below.

  • Please download a copy of our partner pack for further information on UK House and opportunities for partners.

How will it work?

 

  • Use UK House, at Palm Door on Sixth as a platform to promote your product or service to a US audience at SXSW.

  • UK House can be hired in hourly slots, with options for half day activations and private receptions, subject to audience size.

  • There are also sponsorship opportunities available for evening receptions, including UK House and BME launch events. Please indicate in the form if you are interested in sponsoring an evening reception.

  • Partners are responsible for curating an audience for their own activations at UK House.

  • Venue hire/production fees and SXSW Licence fees will apply.

Please note: There are a limited number of slots remaining on the UK House programme. Partnership requests will need to meet overarching UK House objectives.

UK House – Previous Partners:

Please see our partner pack for more information on DBT's presence at SXSW and the opportunity for Partners at UK House.

If you are interested in finding out more, please complete the below form and someone from the SXSW Project team will be in touch.

DBT will consider applications received by 15 January, so please apply today.

today.

To facilitate your company’s online expression of interest, see below a list of information that will be requested. We suggest that you have this information to hand before starting the application as the online system does not allow for saving progress and revisiting the application at a later date.

About your company:

We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and identities to represent all that the UK has to offer. Sharing this information is completely optional and will be confidential in alignment with GDPR regulations.

 

  • Details for person filling out application (name, job title, email, phone).

  • Details for person/people who will deliver your content/activation at UK House (if different from above).

  • Company name, Website, Logo (vector file upload – EPS or AI).

  • Company’s primary business sector (drop down list provided) If other, please describe.

  • UK Region of your company headquarters. If your company has U.S. office(s), please indicate location(s).

  • Has your company attended SXSW before, with DBT or separatley?

  • Is your company already involved/attending SXSW 2025? If so, please specify.

  • If your company has engaged with DBT before, please include contact(s), including names of International Trade Advisor. 

Partnering at UK House:

 

  • What are your objectives for wanting to participate in UK House? 

  • Which creative industries capabilities and services do you want to promote at UK House?

  • Who will be your target business audience at UK House (companies of a certain size, sectors, buyers, funders, investors)?

  • What do you want to deliver at UK House?

  • How many hours do you anticipate needing? Will your event be an invite-only private event or public-facing?

  • Can you share ideas about exciting content and speakers for your proposed UK House session?

  • What will you need to deliver what you want to do? (what kind of space will you need, will you need particular AV and tech, who will you need to be involved)?

  • Are you interested in sponsoring an evening reception or networking event?

  • UK House participation benefits from our broad-based comms/pr/marketing. Beyond this does your organisation have budget/ability to market your programme to help ensure audience attendance at your event?

For any enquiries regarding your submission please email: DBTCreative@brayleinoevents.com