A resolution to make before New Year: get ready for Brexit

When we wake up on New Year’s Day, we will have left the EU. This means that businesses which buy or sell goods and services from-and-to EU suppliers and customers will need to stay on top of a wide range of regulatory changes. In light of this, preparing now is essential – 2021 will be too late.

A recent missive from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has been sent to all UK businesses that may be affected by these changes. While such reminders are often easy to ignore, this one should not be. It makes four basic points:

• You need to be aware of the new rules on importing and exporting between the EU and Great Britain from 1 January 2021 (and remember that Northern Ireland has different rules of its own)
• If you have any intention of recruiting from overseas from 1 January 2021, you need to register as a licensed VISA sponsor
• GOV.UK should be your port of call when it comes to identifying changes which affect manufactured goods (such as new marking requirements or approvals required)
• If you are planning on moving goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland, you must check the latest guidance.

If you need any help preparing your business for Brexit, call JW Hinks on 0121 456 0190.