EU Exit: support for businesses

Last updated 28 April 2021.

The UK and EU have agreed a Trade and Cooperation Agreement governing future trade relations that sees no tariffs or quotas on the movement of goods produced between the UK and the EU. Even though a deal is secured, doing business with Europe has changed, and you need to follow new rules on exports, imports, tariffs, data and hiring. 

We are working with Enterprise Growth Solutions (EGS), and following guidance from the Department of International Trade (DIT), to provide specialist support to businesses across Yorkshire and the Humber. Find more information in the local support section below.

What actions do I need to take now?

If you are a business that deals with Europe are not ready for these changes, you could risk serious disruption to your operations. 

1. Visit gov.uk/transition now and use the Brexit checker tool to get a personalised list of actions for your business and subscribe to find out when things change. 
2. You must now make customs declarations when exporting goods to the EU. You can make the declarations yourself, but most businesses use an intermediary like a courier, freight forwarder or customs agent.
3. Make sure you have an EORI number starting with GB. If exporting, you’ll need to check that the EU business you’re exporting to is also ready.
4. If you move goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland, make sure you also check the latest Northern Ireland Protocol guidance. If you’re moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the free-to-use Trader Support Service will guide you through the changes.
5. The Government has taken measures to allow traders time to adjust to new processes. It has introduced new border controls in three stages until 1 July 2021 and agreed with the EU to temporarily simplify Rules of Origin procedures for 12 months to the end of December 2021, by implementing a 12-month waiver on supplier declarations.
6. For trade with countries outside the EU, check for any changes to tariffs.
7. If you’re due to travel to the EU for work, you may need a visa or work permit.
8. If you want to hire from outside the UK, including from the EU, you must be a Home Office licenced sponsor under the UK’s new points-based immigration system. The new system doesn’t apply when hiring Irish citizens, or EU citizens already living in the UK.
9. You may need to have UK professional qualifications officially recognised to work in a regulated profession in the EEA or Switzerland.

• Sign up to a range of sector and topic-specific webinars for direct support from experts on the new rules on trading with the EU. Following the live events, the webinars are available to watch on-demand
• The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is hosting a series of free podcasts to help businesses that make, use or supply chemicals, understand what actions they need to take to prepare for the changes. To listen to the podcast, you can search ‘The HSE Podcast’ on your chosen platform.
• HMRC customs declarations webinars: HMRC has launched multiple editions of this live webinar covering how to complete customs import declarations and explaining how to make import declarations when importing goods between the EU and Great Britain.
• Department for International Trade webinars: DIT is hosting a series of webinars primarily aimed at businesses which are UK based who import and export goods.
• The Ministry of Justice has published several on-demand webinars for legal professionals discussing legal changes.
• Trading with the EU: A video series that explains what businesses need to do to keep their business moving is available to watch now. These videos cover what businesses need to know about exports and imports, customs, commodity codes and controlled goods.

Information for businesses that trade with the EU

A guide to how the border with the European Union works

View the step by step guidance on how to move goods from the UK to international destinations, including the EU.

Find out what you need to do to comply with regulations on manufactured goods you place on the GB market.

Recognising the impact of coronavirus on businesses’ ability to prepare, and following the announcement in February 2020 that the UK Government will implement full border controls on imports coming into GB from the EU, the UK Government has taken the decision to introduce the new border controls in three stages up until 1 July 2021. This approach will give industry extra time to make necessary arrangements. The stages are:

• From January 2021 

  Traders importing standard goods, covering everything from clothes to electronics, will need to prepare for basic customs requirements, such as keeping sufficient records of imported goods, and will have up to six months to complete customs declarations. While tariffs will need to be paid on all imports, payments can be deferred until the customs declaration has been made. There will be checks on controlled goods like alcohol and tobacco. Businesses will also need to consider how they account for VAT on imported goods. There will also be physical checks at the point of destination on all high-risk live animals and a proportion of low-risk live animals.

• From April 2021

  All products of animal origin (POAO) – for example meat, pet food, honey, milk or egg products – and all regulated plants and plant products will also require pre-notification and the relevant health documentation.

• From July 2021 

  Traders moving all goods will have to make declarations at the point of importation and pay relevant tariffs. Full Safety and Security declarations will be required, while for SPS commodities there will be an increase in physical checks and the taking of samples: checks for animals, plants and their products will now take place at GB Border Control Posts.

Further details can be found in the Border Operating Model. See the ‘Guide to changes at the border’ for a summary.