Connections are crucial to the success of any business. Visit our latest news to keep up to date with the latest business news from across the region.
Become a Chamber member today and access a range of benefits to connect, support and grow your business
Connections are crucial to the success of any business. Visit our latest news to keep up to date with the latest business news from across the region.
Connections are crucial to the success of any business. Visit our latest news to keep up to date with the latest business news from across the region.
Connections are crucial to the success of any business. Visit our latest news to keep up to date with the latest business news from across the region.
Brexit
Introduction:
The UK left the EU at 11pm on the 31st January 2020 and entered a transition period, during which little practically changes for businesses. This transition period is scheduled to end on the 31st December 2020.
Brexit is complex and can often seem overwhelming, but it is important that businesses take steps to make the necessary preparations where they can to put themselves in the best possible place to react and respond to whatever does come next.
The GBCC is here to help and will continue to provide businesses with Brexit related support and services in the run-up to the end of the transition period and beyond.
For more information on GBCC Brexit workshops and webinars click here, for our international trade training courses click here and for our “Bitesize Brexit” videos click here.
What are we advising businesses?
1. Communicate: Reach out to your EU staff, contacts, business partners, suppliers and customers and reassure them that they remain important to your business and a part of your strategy moving forwards.
2. Research: Seek to understand your business’ current relationship with EU markets and what impact any potential changes to people & skills, trade, regulation & legal and funding environments would have on your business.
3. Prepare: Using your research, you should have an understanding of the risks and opportunities facing your business as a result of the end of the Brexit transition period. You may wish to review key strategies (e.g. recruitment, the international markets you are prioritising expansion in, suppliers, staff development & training) accordingly.
4. Seek Support: No business needs to navigate Brexit alone and while Brexit represents challenges it also brings opportunities. The GBCC is here to help businesses get ready with advice, guidance, training & peer learning.
Brexit Support and Services:
Connect
Connect with fellow local businesses through:
- Peer Learning: Member only peer to peer sessions sharing practical learning and experiences
- Member to Member offers: Raise awareness of the services your company can provide to support businesses through Brexit (click here to contact us)
- Thought Leadership Content: providing blog posts and videos on tips for preparing for Brexit (click here to contact us)
- Chamberlink Daily Articles: showcasing your businesses’ latest news and response to Brexit to over 14,000 subscribers (click here to contact us)
- Sponsor of Commission Research: understand the local business impact and responses to Brexit (click here)
Support
Support your business through:
- Brexit Hub: advice & business briefings (click here)
- Informative Webinars: on what will change & how to prepare (click here)
- Accredited Training: on international trade aspects of Brexit (click here)
- Funding: Support & guidance on grants for training & support (click here)
- International Trade & Customs Advice: from our expert advisors (click here)
- Lobbying & Campaigning Activity: Raise a business issue or provide a case study, contact us (click here)
Grow
Grow your business in new markets through:
- International Trade Support: from our DIT International Trade Advisors (click here)
- Enterprise Europe Network Support: advice & business partnership opportunities (click here)
- Transatlantic Chamber of Commerce: access opportunities on bilateral transatlantic trade (click here)
- Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce: access opportunities on bilateral Commonwealth trade (click here)
- The Global Chamber Network: The British Chambers of Commerce Global Business Network have offices in over 60 countries
Brexit Timeline
We are working hard to keep businesses informed about the latest Brexit Developments. Our Brexit timeline helps you keep track of the latest announcements and major milestones over the course of the negotiations.
People and Skills
This section provides guides on the EU Settlement Scheme and the UK’s future points-based immigration system. Find out more information on how Brexit impacts your staff, your business’ future recruitment of EU nationals, and the ability to move citizens to and from the UK and the EU for work.
Trade
The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce have produced an online guide outlining how the UK/EU border will operate from 1 January 2021 and what a “no deal” or WTO Rules Brexit would mean for businesses.
Brexit Checklists
The GBCC has created a series of Brexit checklists covering a range of topics to help businesses in their preparations for the UK’s departure from the EU.
Training Support & Webinars
The GBCC offer a wide range of accredited international trade related training courses that can help businesses adapt to and prepare for Brexit and beyond. Topics include: Incoterms 2020, Customs declarations, Import and Export Essentials.
The Chamber has produced a number of online videos to help businesses prepare for the end of the transition period. Topics covered include: trade in goods and services, transferring data and employing EU nationals.