Business Secretary urges businesses to prepare for the end of the Brexit transition period

With just 81 days to go until the end of the transition period, @AlokSharma_RDG calls on companies to take action now to prepare for the UK’s new start on 1 January 2021. 

Business Secretary Alok Sharma has written in a letter to over 600,000 firms across the UK today (12 Oct).

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.

An urgent message from the Business Secretary: Are you ready for our new relationship with the EU? 

There will be guaranteed changes from 1 January for businesses as we start our new relationship with the EU, and there are many actions you can take today to prepare. Find out what you need to do by visiting gov.uk/transition and using the checker tool.

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.

There are 80 days until the end of the transition period and there will be no extension, so you need to act now.

Regardless of whether we reach a trade agreement with the EU, from 1 January there will be guaranteed changes to:

• the way businesses import and export goods
• the process for hiring people from the EU
• the way businesses provide services in EU markets

Help is available, and as Business Secretary, I encourage you to:

1. Check what actions you need to take by visiting gov.uk/transition.
2. Sign-up for updates.
3. Attend government webinars for additional support, you can sign up to attend BEIS webinars now.

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.

Yours sincerely,

Alok Sharma, Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

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 Alok Sharma 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