- With just 81 days to go until the end of the transition
period, Business Secretary calls on companies to take action now
to prepare
- Government to host range of webinars to help businesses get
ready for the UK’s new start
- Sector-specific webinars will cover areas such as visas, work
permits, and tariffs
Businesses need to take action now to prepare for the UK’s new
start on 1 January 2021, the Business Secretary will write in a letter to over 600,000 firms across
the UK tomorrow (Monday 12 October).
In his letter, the Business Secretary will call 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 31 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 our 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.
Business Secretary said:
“With just 81 days until the end of the transition period,
businesses must act now to ensure they are ready for the UK’s new
start come January. There will be no extension to the transition
period, so there is no time to waste.
“I urge all businesses across the country to check gov.uk to see what action
they need to take, sign up for updates, or attend one of our
sector-specific webinars.
“Businesses have a crucial role to play in ensuring a smooth
transition, and we will be there to support them through this
change every step of the way.”
Businesses can sign up for the most recent updates here.
A range of webinars for have been arranged by the Business
Department for businesses to attend online. 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.
Business sectors being covered by these webinars are:
- Services and Investment 13 October
- Retail 14 October
- Automotive 14 October
- Metals and Materials 20 October
- Electronics and machinery 21 October
- Consumer Goods 22 October
- Life Sciences 27 October
- Construction 28 October
- Aerospace 29 October
