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Businesses urged to prepare for EU Transition

Business Secretary Alok Sharma has written an open letter to over 600,000 UK firms, calling on them to familiarise themselves with the new rules they will need to follow from January 2021.

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In the letter sent on 12 October, the Business Secretary urged businesses to use the government’s online checker tool to understand what actions they needed to take over the coming weeks.

Regardless of the outcome of final negotiations, from 1 January 2021 businesses face guaranteed changes to the way they import and export goods, provide services in EU markets and hire EU nationals. According to government sources, less than a quarter of businesses believe they are fully prepared for the new rules that are set to come into force.

Alok Sharma said:

“I know these are challenging times, however, it is vital that your business prepares now for our new relationship with the EU, outside of the Single Market and Customs Union. Unless you take action, there is a risk business operations will be interrupted. You should also check with your suppliers and customers that they are taking action.

“Businesses will play an essential role in ensuring a smooth end to the transition period, and the government and I will be there to support you as we embark on the UK’s new start.”

To help businesses understand the new requirements, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is hosting a series of sector-focused ‘Check, Change, Go’ webinars throughout October. The live sessions will also be available on-demand for those who cannot attend on the allocated date for their sector.

More information on what the EU Transition means for your business can be found via our dedicated EU Transition toolkit.

Access the EU Transition Toolkit

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