With the UK leaving the EU in January, and the transition period after Brexit coming to an end this year, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) recognises the important role that organisations such as trade associations play in preparing their members, businesses and networks for when the UK leaves the single market and customs union.
Throughout the rest of 2020, BEIS’s aim is to ensure that you are provided with the latest information from UK Government to keep up to date on announcements and guidance that businesses can use to prepare.
Whilst the UK Government continues to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement with the EU, there are actions BEIS would welcome your help to encourage businesses to take action now, that do not depend on negotiations. The UK Government has launched a major new “Transition” public information campaign called “The UK’s new start: let’s get going”, to give everyone the facts that will be needed to be ready for 1 January 2021. A straightforward checker tool at gov.uk/transition will quickly identify the specific steps any business or individual needs to take to be ready.
Other products to keep you up to date include:
• Business Readiness Transition Bulletin – a regular bulletin that provides information on major announcements and recently published guidance. If you do not receive the Bulletin, you can sign up to receive it here, and please encourage businesses in your network(s) to sign up to it too, by sharing the link.
• The Business Readiness Forum – a regular live online forum specifically for Trade Associations and business representative organisations where Government officials in key business areas will provide updates and answer questions on recent policy announcements and information that businesses should be aware of in order to make their preparations. The first Forum took place on Thursday 23 July and the next one will be held at 11am on 20 August. If you would like an invite to this event, please email sed@beis.gov.uk and one will be forwarded on to you.
• Standard Business Readiness PowerPoint presentations and script for use at your own events containing information on how your businesses can prepare for the end of the Transitional Period. BEIS will host training sessions to help you use the material and will keep these updated, as we progress towards the end of the transition period.
• Webinars – sector specific webinars providing ‘one-stop-shop’ information on the readiness actions that relevant businesses should take to prepare for the end of the transition period. Further details will be issued in September.
BEIS wants to work with you over the coming months to ensure businesses are ready for the UK’s new start in 2021. Please email sed@beis.gov.uk if you would like to discuss this further.