Doing business with Europe has changed. You need to follow new rules on exports, imports, tariffs, data and hiring. Act now to keep your business moving.
Visit gov.uk/transition and use the Brexit checker tool to get a personalised list of actions that your business needs to take, and sign up to receive updates on these.
To help businesses adapt to these changes, a range of information has been made available:
You can contact the government’s helplines for free business advice:
Business Support Helpline (England)
0800 998 1098
Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
enquiries@businesssupporthelpline.org
HMRC Customs & International Trade Helpline
0300 322 9434
Monday to Friday, 8am to 10pm and from 8am to 4pm at weekends.
You can also send HMRC your questions or use their webchat service.
The Yorkshire & Humber EU Transition Support Service (delivered by Economic Growth Solutions, in alignment with the Department for International Trade) provides quick access to EU Transition support requirements in addition to a broader range of export support. Focussing on international trade, the service will also support or signpost to other provisions and access government expertise.
Contact eutransitionyh@mobile.trade.gov.uk or 0300 365 1000.
Delivered by the global law firm, Squire Patton Boggs, the EU Exit Legal Clinic provides SMEs in the Leeds City Region in West and North Yorkshire with free expert guidance on EU Exit-related legal issues. Available until 31 March, businesses can access up to one hour of support, covering matters related to:
Contact the LEP Gateway on businesssupport@the-lep.com
BEIS webinars
To support business preparations the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is hosting free webinars to help you check the new rules and understand the actions to take. Following the live events, the webinars are available to watch on demand.
These webinars are tailored to different sectors, including:
Register or watch on demand here and for the latest updates on webinars for businesses visit gov.uk
Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) webinars
The LEP is working with Greenborough Management Ltd on a series of webinars from January - March 2021 to support SMEs around the implications of the UK’s new trading relationship with the EU. Topics include:
See the full programme and booking information here: ERDF and EU Exit Webinars
Updated 16 March 2021 - The £20 million SME Brexit Support Fund is now open for applications. The fund will help smaller businesses with changes to trade rules with the EU, enabling traders to access practical support, including training for new customs, rules of origin and VAT processes.
The SME Brexit Support Fund could give you up to £2,000 if your business has up to 500 employees, and no more than £100 million annual turnover. SMEs who import or export goods between Great Britain and the EU, or move goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, can apply for grants of up to £2,000, to pay for practical support including training and professional advice to ensure they can continue trading effectively with the EU.
To be eligible, your business must:
Your business must also either:
For more information on the SME Brexit Support Fund, and to apply, click here.
Applications will close on 30 June 2021 or earlier if all funding is allocated before this date. |
Are you or anyone you work with an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, resident in the UK before 31 December 2020?
To continue living in the UK beyond 30 June 2021, you and any family members need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.
For more information and to apply, visit https://gov.uk/eusettlementscheme
As the Transition period has now ended, businesses involved in international trade need to be ready for new customs arrangements. Guidance on import licences and export licences for 2021 has also been updated.
Four steps for importers and exporters to take now:
DEFRA has shared updated guidance for importing and exporting the following:
Importing animals, animal products and high-risk feed and food not of animal origin
Exporting live animals and animal products to the EU
Export groups of products of animal origin to the EU from 1 January 2021
Importing and exporting plans and plant products from 1 January 2021
Importing and exporting wine from 1 January 2021
DEFRA has also released updated guidance on labelling and marketing standards for:
Trading and labelling organic food
Fresh fruit and vegetable marketing
Beef and veal marketing standards
HMRC has published guidance on applying for grants for recruitment, training and IT improvements if businesses complete customs declarations. In addition, the following information has been updated:
List of customs agents and fast parcel operators
Draft and final notices to be made under the Customs Regulations
The Northern Ireland Protocol came into force on 1 January 2021, and specific guidance and training is available on moving goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland.
Sign up for the free Trader Support Service which:
It can help if you:
sign up for the free Trader Support Service which:
The Northern Ireland Protocol came into force from 1 January 2021. The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has issued guidance on using the new UKNI conformity marking required when placing goods on the market in Northern Ireland.
Updated 19 November - Letters from the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have been sent to UK businesses about the specific actions their sectors need to take from 1 January 2021.
Click on the links below to read the sector-specific guidance:
Agri-food and biosecurity sector
Metals and other materials sector
UK intellectual property law has changed from 1 January 2021 to ensure the smooth departure from EU IP systems, affecting how the Intellectual Property (IP) system and the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) will operate. These changes affect:
Find information about the key changes here: Intellectual Property after 1 January 2021
Help is available to ensure your business is ready:
New service available to search and classify, trade mark goods and services
When applying to register a UK trade mark, use the new search UK trade mark classes service on gov.uk to specify the goods and/or services you are seeking protection for.
This service will allow you to search for the goods and services you intend to use your trade mark on before you apply.
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
The PCT fee structure has also changed and a new fee structure for PCT applications is in effect from 1 January 2021. Find out more about the changes here.
If you do not take action, there is a risk your business operations will be interrupted. You can find out what other actions you may need to take by using the checker tool at gov.uk/transition and signing up for the Government’s business readiness updates.
The Department for International Trade (Yorkshire and Humber) is running programmes to support local businesses with their export ambitions.
