Business secretary Alok Sharma will write in a letter to over 600,000 firms across the UK today, calling on businesses to familiarise themselves with the actions they will need to take, by visiting gov.uk/transition and using the checker tool.
When the transition period ends on 31st December 2020, there will be a guaranteed set of changes and opportunities for which businesses need to prepare as the UK leaves the customs union and single market, including changes to the way businesses import and export goods, the process for hiring people from the EU, and the way businesses provide services in EU markets.
The vast majority of these actions will need to be completed regardless of the outcome of negotiations with the EU. These include ensuring staff register for residency rights and preparing for customs procedures when trading with the EU.
To make sure businesses are prepared, the government will also host a series of sector-specific webinars throughout October to remind them of the changes they will need to make.
Businesses can sign up for the most recent updates here.
A range of webinars have been arranged for businesses to attend online as well. The first of these is on Tuesday 13 October, focusing on services and investment.
The launch of the webinars follows extensive Government engagement with businesses in recent months, including roundtables led by the Business Secretary and BEIS ministers with business leaders and representative organisations. These roundtables have focussed on the next steps for business as the UK prepares for our new relationship with the EU.
The webinars cover general areas that businesses of any shape and size will need to understand and act on, such as visas, work permits, and tariffs – as well as sector specific information.
