If you’re  based in the Peterborough area and want to explore international trade opportunities, please get in touch with Opportunity Peterborough. We will ensure your organisation gets the support it needs.

Brexit – resources and actions for your business:

• Get a personalised action list for your business on the government’s UK transition website. You can also review the master task list for actions businesses need to take.
• Sign up to be alerted of upcoming webinars, and access videos about trading with the EU
• Sign up to receive regular bulletins from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
• Review the step-by-step guidance for imports
• Review the step-by-step guidance for exports
• Check if changes to the Border Operating Model affect your business for trading with the EU
• If you move goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Trader Support Service can guide you through new processes under the Northern Ireland Protocol, that start on 1 January 2021

Delaying your customs declarations

If you import goods from the EU into Great Britain that are not on the controlled goods list, you can delay making full declarations to HMRC for up to 175 days after you import your goods, provided the goods were imported before 1 January 2022.

If you are already making full declarations, you do not need to change anything, but for those who are still getting to grips with the changes, you now have longer to prepare. If you have chosen to delay your declarations, there are some things to consider:

• Make sure you are keeping a record of all your imports, so that you are ready to complete your supplementary declarations in time.
• Before your goods are imported, make sure that you agree with the person responsible for moving your goods whether they will be declared using delayed declarations or using existing customs processes at the point of entry.

If you have already imported goods using delayed declarations, the announcement does not extend the period between importing your goods and making your supplementary declarations. You will still need to submit your delayed supplementary declarations within 175 days of the goods arriving in Great Britain. For example, if you imported goods on 5 January using the delayed declaration option, you will need to make your supplementary declarations by 30 June.

Customs intermediaries

• Customs declarations can be complicated, so many businesses decide to use a customs intermediary to deal with import and export declarations on their behalf. Types of intermediaries include:
  • Royal Mail and fast parcel operators – who are particularly useful if you are a small business that is used to sending goods through the post or with parcel operators
  • Customs brokers and agents who might be better for businesses that trade more regularly
  • Freight forwarders, who can provide more specialist advice

• If you are confused about where to get help from there is a list of customs intermediaries that can help you on UK. This list shows which intermediaries have capacity to take on new clients and provides more information about the services they offer.
• You can use HMRC’s list of things to consider when you appoint a customs intermediary to help you find one that meets your needs.
• To start completing your own customs declarations, checking if there’s duty or VAT to pay on your goods, finding out about duty reliefs, or looking up commodity codes, you can now take advantage of the new commodity checker tool on GOV.UK.

Specialist support

The Export Support Service (ESS):

• This helpline and online service is the first point of contact for all UK businesses to get answers to questions about exporting their products or services to customers in Europe. ESS is a free government service run by the Department for International Trade.
• No matter the size of your business, how much you export or where in the UK you are based, you can use the service to get answers to your questions.
• It can also help you navigate other government services, so you can find further support about trading with Europe or other countries, such as DIT’s International Trade Advisers and the Export Academy.
• ESS currently focuses on questions you have about trading with Europe but will expand to cover more global markets this year.
• Get in touch with the Export Support Service by visiting www.gov.uk/ask-export-support-teamor by calling0300 303 8955. 

Brexit4Business is a dedicated resource for businesses within the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area, including Huntingdonshire and Fenland. This team of experts is running regular workshops on EU Settlement and import and export, and are also available for one-to-one advice and guidance.  For more information, visit: https://www.brexit4business.co.uk/

You can also contact the Institute for Export, based in Peterborough, for additional support on import and export.

Better Business for All supports businesses with compliance and connects you with all regulatory advisroy services your business needs.

UK-EU Transition Helpline: Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce, in partnership with the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) Growth Hub, is on hand to offer you the essential advice and support you need as a business to ensure you can continue trading following the end of the transition period and can guide you to the resources you will require. If you have concerns following the end of the UK-EU transition period and how it affects your business, please get in touch with the Cambridgeshire Chamber and the CPCA Growth Hub team:

01223 209812 / 01223 209816 eutransition@cambscci.co.uk

To discuss how your business can prepare or exporting, or adapt to new rules, please contact Opportunity Peterborough for guidance.