Less than 100 days to go – are you prepared for Brexit?

Less than 100 days to go – are you prepared for Brexit?

The Institute of Export is running a number of courses to help exporters get ready

With so much being said about Brexit at the moment and the prospect of a no-deal exit from the EU becoming increasingly significant, it’s paramount that UK businesses prepare themselves for the various scenarios that are potentially looming.

It’s clear that simply adopting a wait and see strategy is not an option. Yes, there is uncertainty about what Brexit will hold, but businesses need to ensure they have an understanding of how customs procedures and checks work in place, in case they become the order of the day in 2019, 2020 or beyond.

The impact of a no-deal cannot be overstated. According to the Institute for Government, there are 180,000 businesses trading goods between the UK and the EU who will be required to complete customs declarations for the first time [footnote]https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/IfG_Brexit_customs_WEB.pdf[/footnote]

Even if there is a Brexit deal, we will need to know about customs procedures as the EU is now an export market and you will need complete export documentation to trade with member countries. Do you know everything you need to fulfil your obligations?
Aside from Brexit, as a nation we need to look further afield at the opportunities outside of the EU, for the sake of our economy and to meet growing demand. With declining trade between the UK and the EU (falling from 54% of the UK’s exports in 2006 to 43% in 2016) and growing demand for British goods throughout the rest of the world, knowledge of customs procedures and documentation will be a necessity for companies looking to seize those opportunities.

The Institute of Export & International Trade has been supporting the interests of everyone involved in international trade for over 80 years. Our Customs Procedures & Documentation one-day training course offers a very detailed and comprehensive look at the information that is required to be submitted to customs to enable goods to be imported and exported. It also looks at the differences between EU and non-EU trade.

Delays, fines and inspections are things that no company wants to endure, hence this course will equip attendees with the information to be able to understand what is required to comply with customs and if at any time an audit was required, then to be able to be prepared. Avoid any punitive action.

Now is the perfect time to get your staff booked onto this course as the government is offering grants for training that helps UK businesses to complete customs declarations. The Institute’s Customs Procedures & Documentation course is eligible for this funding and we have put on extra dates between January and March 2019, to help businesses prepare for Brexit – whatever that may look like.
Businesses can get grants to cover up to 70% of the training costs, but hurry as applications will close on 5th April 2019, or earlier if all of the funding is allocated.

You may also be interested in completing the Institute’s new Customs Practitioner Award, by completing all six of our world-renowned Customs training courses and then sitting a final multiple choice assessment (online).

To find out more about our training courses and the grant funding click HERE or call our Training Team on 01733 404423.