Training courses and workshops to empower businesses   

Our training courses provide in-depth knowledge and practical skills, and a wide selection of our courses are also accredited by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), leading to a special qualification known as the Foundation Award in International Trade. 

Topics include:

  • Documentation for International Trade
  • Export & Import Procedures
  • Sales & Marketing
  • Health & Safety

An award will be given on completion of the required number of credits, which is the equivalent of an NVQ (National Vocational Qualification). A total of six completed credits of training are needed to be completed to achieve the award.

This will enable your business to dramatically upskill your staff on global issues, whilst also being able to refresh the knowledge of more experienced team members, and alert them to changes that occur when exporting or importing.

In addition, we also offer sales & marketing workshops and Health & Safety courses that would suit any industry regardless of size. Plus, our bespoke packages are available to align training with your business objectives or for those who have specific requirements or large teams to train in certain subjects.

To enquire about which courses are accredied or to discuss individual courses or a bespoke package, speak to the team. Our staff will be happy to provide you with further information on any topic of your choice, as well as look at the most suitable option to get the best for your business.

Email: Training@birmingham-chamber.com

Call: 07860258387 or 0121 274 3229

 

Training Courses Available:

Agents and Distributors

Our Agents and Distributors course is an extensive overview of the process of appointing an agent or a distributor. It contains a wealth of wide-ranging information from understanding what agents and distributors are, the roles and differences between both and what to consider when appointing an agent or distributor, and of the legal considerations and implications of their appointment.

The course will cover:

• What an agent is
• Advantage and Disadvantages of an agent
• What a distributor is
• Advantages and Disadvantages of a Distributor
• What to consider when appointing an Agent or Distributor
• How to choose - Agent or Distributor?
• Legal Considerations
• Help and Assistance in finding an Agent/or Distributor

Customs Procedures and Documentation

This course serves as an extensive review of the process of export and an introduction to the process of Customs Procedures and Documentation. Handling documents and forms for Customs formalities can be tough, our course aims to explain procedures in enough detail that attendees can feel more confident when completing the paperwork process. The course contains a wealth of wide-ranging information including Customs Procedures, Import Duties and AEO to refresh and develop a further understanding of the world of export.

The course will cover:

• Organisation involved in international trade
• What an Export is
• Key information on international documentation, including Commodity Codes, Incoterms and Licences
• Rules of origin covering preference and non-preference, GSP & EU-UK Trade cooperation agreement
• Customs compliance including the role of HMRC, Export Declarations, Customs Procedures, Import Duties, AEO, Audit and NI trade

Documentary Letters of Credit & Methods of Payment

This course is an extensive review of different methods of Payment, and a detailed introduction to the Letter of Credit process. The course will provide an overview of all methods of payment when trading internationally including the risks and benefits of each. It will also guide you through the rules of managing a letter of credit to ensure the document is compliant, and the payment successful.

The course will cover:

• Foreign currency transaction mitigation
• Methods of payment – risks and benefits, advance payment, documentary collection, open account, letter of credit
• The letter of credit process including terminology, LC types, UCP 600 rules and management and presentation of the letter of credit
• Incoterms 2020
• Shipping documents
• Hints and tips regarding best practice for L/Cs

Import Procedures including Inward Processing & Outward Processing

This course is an extensive review of Import Procedures and Customs Requirements, and a detailed Introduction to the Special Procedures processes. It contains a wealth of information from the earliest point of enquiry to the final part of the audit process. From the definition of an Import and Process Flow, Movement of Goods, and the Documents Required for Import Clearance, this course puts all the stages of the import processes under the microscope and teaches participants how to navigate the highly complex process for permanent and temporary imports.

The course will cover:

Import Procedures:

• Definition of an Import and process flow
• Making the enquiry, areas to consider include product, payment, licences, Incoterms, transport, documentation, costs, terms, and conditions
• Provide the purchase order
• Movement of goods
• Import clearance covering documentation, declarations, import duties
• Special procedures
• Import easements if applicable

Inward & Outward Processing:

• An explanation of the Tariff, CHIEF and relevant nomenclature
• Union Customs Code changes from 2016 – what has changed, what it means now, what the special procedures are, how to apply and how a company can benefit from using IP and or OP
• Overview of Special Procedures - what they are and their types
• Practical examples of which Special Procedure would be best suitable in given situations
• Exercises in calculating guarantee levels required to support Special Procedure applications
• Compliance, responsibilities, and record keeping

Incoterms 2020

This course hosts an insightful and in-depth study into all things Incoterms. It contains an array of introductory information whilst maintaining a strong focus on the more detailed aspects of Incoterms including their obligations, risks, and costs that each term encompasses. From the absolute basics of what Incoterms are and their associated history since their inception in 1919, to a detailed review of each Incoterm and the precise way to write them on a commercial invoice.

The course will cover:

• What are Incoterms?
• The history of Incoterms
• An explanation of the Incoterms including what they ‘do’ and ‘don’t do’
• Understand and discuss what documentation they apply to
• Review each 2020 Incoterm in detail
• Understand the risks, costs, and obligations for both buyer and seller
• The main changes from Incoterms 2010
• To be able to correctly classify shipments to reflect the mode of transport and be appropriate for the goods

Preference, Rules of Origin

Understanding rules and regulations surrounding origin is vital in any export and import process, gaining the knowledge to determine the origin of your product leads to smoother operations at the border and prevents unforeseen penalties from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

Our Rules of Origin course demystifies the complex process of Preference and provides an essential understanding of the effects of origin upon sales and purchases, as well as detail regarding the documentation needed depending on the products origin.

The course will cover:

• A detailed explanation of origin
• Non preferential origin rules
• UK & Arab certificates of origin
• Preferential origin rules
• Trade agreements
• Practical session
• UK EUR1 movement certificate’s
• EU – UK Trade agreement & bi-lateral cumulation
• Other cumulation methods
• Preference on imports to include general system of preference (GSP)
• Commodity codes & the tariff
• General good business practice

Understanding Commodity Codes

The international system for coding products for international trade is generally regarded as one of the most complex processes of export, with the penalties for wrongly assigning a code to a product remain severe. Our course provides an extensive overview of commodity codes to any exporter or importer which will help them understand their own codes and the importance of declaring the correct one. It contains a wealth of wide-ranging information from the earliest point of the History of Trade commodity codes, the rules when choosing a commodity code as well as organisations exporters can contact for advice and guidance

The course will cover:

• Background to Trade Commodity Codes
• Make up of a Commodity Code
• General Interpretive Rules
• Building a Commodity Code
• How to find a Commodity Code
• Hard To Classify Goods
• Advanced Tariff Ruling
• Things to Consider
•UK Global Tariff
• Summary

Understanding Exporting and export Documentation

Our Understanding Exporting and Export Documentation course is an extensive overview of the process of exporting and all the associated documentation. It contains a wealth of wide-ranging information from the earliest point of enquiry to the final point of dispatch.

The course will cover:

• Receiving the enquiry - responsibilities and roles, Incoterms 2020, methods of payment and the risk ladder, Export controls and licence requirements
• Quotation
• Order acknowledgement / pro forma invoice
• Pre shipment inspections / packing
• Shipping documents to include invoices and packing lists – commodity codes, origin, preference documents, certificates of origin
• Move the goods – transport considerations, booking the shipment and freight forwarder responsibilities, contracts of carriage / transport documentation
• Proof of Export
• General good business practice

All the stages of the procedures are put under the microscope to teach participants how to navigate the highly complex process of export correctly.

A Beginners Practical Guide to Exporting

This course is an introductory overview of the process flow of exports which will look at the basic documentation processes from a new learner’s point of view. It contains an array of introductory information on international documentation that surrounds various stages of exporting. You will look at the step-by-step process from the very beginning. From information gathering, requesting a shipping quotation, export documentation, packing lists and labels, and creating an invoice booking.

As well as the practical session, attendees will also learn and discuss the following:

• Export definition and the Process Flow
• Questions to ask Prior to Sending Goods Overseas
• Requesting a Shipment Quotation
• Export Documentation
• Packing Lists and Labels
• Creating an Invoice – Practical Session
• Booking and Managing the Shipment Collection
• Buyer/Customer Communication
• Proof of Export/Delivery
• The Jargon Explained

Health and Safety for Small Business

Our Health and Safety for Small Businesses course provides participants vital knowledge on Health and Safety in the workplace including specific legislation to their business. The course will teach correct procedure to follow as well as provide tips and guidance, explain how their organisation could be affected if Health & Safety ruling is not followed correctly, and provide attendees with an action plan of items to take back to their workplace to help implement any necessary changes.

The course will cover

• Overview of primary Health & Safety legislation, Health & Safety guidance, and best practice
• Health & Safety policy
• Responsibilities
• Insurance
• Fire / emergency / first aid
• Control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH)
• Accidents & incidents
• Fee for intervention
• Health & Safety terms
• Managing Health & Safety at work (including contractors)
• Hazard and risk analysis
• Personal protective equipment
• Display screen equipment
• Manual handling
• Work equipment
• Where to get help

This course would be ideal for companies with 500 employees or less, and from any field of business whether you are in international trade, sales, production, accounting, electronics, all businesses must conform to Health & Safety legislation.

An Introduction to Authorised Economic Operator (AEO)

AEO status is an internationally recognized quality mark indicating that your role as a business in the international supply chain is secure, and that your customs controls and procedures are efficient and compliant. Authorised Economic Status (AEO) also provides priority treatment through customs borders. It may also mean reduced customs administration and associated costs when buying/selling to/ from the EU and across the globe. Our Authorized Economic Operator course is an extensive introduction to the definition of a AEO and how companies can prepare and apply for approval.

The course will cover

• What AEO is
• How to apply for it
• The business benefits of AEO status
• How to prepare for approval

Marketing Training

Join us for a series of four informative marketing know-how workshops which will empower you to understand and build your own brand and marketing strategy and develop the skills to write and position content which reaches the customers you want to engage with. Delivered by an award-winning marketing strategist and professional business coach, each workshop will help you to understand what makes your business stand out and teach you how to use this to the best advantage. Packed full of useful tips, practical knowhow and hands-on planning sessions, the workshops will cover:

• Building a meaningful brand that your customers want to engage with
• Developing a strategy to give your marketing focus and direction
• Identifying what you want to say and where you should say it
• Creating a marketing action plan which works for you, your budget, and your customers

Risk and Rewards of International Trade

Our Risk and Rewards in International Trade course has been written to help businesses understand the different areas of risks when conducting International Trade, to be able to make informed decisions to mitigate those risks where possible. The course will also highlight the importance of incoterms and the implications for the exporter/importer if not utilised correctly.

The course will cover

• Country and Political Risk
• Commercial Risk
• Logistics Risk
• Foreign Exchange Risk
• Financial Risk (including Funds options)

Sales Training

We currently offer a masterclass which consists of four sessions of sales modules, each session provides detailed information in key areas for anyone looking to boost their sales within their business. Each session will provide help, guidance and handy tips that help any role and industry achieve results they are looking for.

Attendees can sit as many or as little of the sessions as they require and can be completed in any order, the beauty of the sessions is that they focus on individual topics so anyone who is interested can focus on their own problem areas to work on. Whether you are looking to edit your sales pitch, learn how to handle tricky customers, or look after new and current customers efficiently and effectively, there is something for everyone.

The four modules currently cover

• How to tell your story in 60 seconds
• Generating (the right kind of) leads
• Listening to what the customer really wants to buy
• Negotiate and close more profitable business

Training After Brexit

Brexit brought many changes to business which nobody could have even thought of. Many changes were for importers and exporters. The way the United Kingdom interacts with the EU has changed sufficiently, our variety of ‘trading after Brexit’ sessions are all written to include the most current information to help UK businesses operate effectively and efficiently in areas where hurdles may appear, so that businesses are able to take away information to implement it effectively into their business and operate smoothly.

Sessions will cover

• Changes to Customs Declarations & tariff Commodity Codes
• Rules of Origin
• Regulatory requirements
• Duty &VAT
• The importance of understanding Incoterms and their implications
• Changes and other things to consider
• Security & Safety Declarations
• Postponed VAT Accounting
• Simplified Customs Declaration Procedure
• Transit
• CHIEF & CDS transition
• Customs Agents
• Things still yet to come

A Beginners Guide to Importing

This course is an introductory overview of the process flow of imports which will look at the basic documentation processes from a new learner’s point of view. It contains an array of introductory information on international documentation that surrounds various stages of importing. You will look at the step-by-step process from the very beginning. From Information Gathering, Commodity Codes, Import Documentation, Packing Lists and Preference Documents, the attendee will have a great overview of basic import once the course ends.

Introduction to Customs Declarations in CDS

This course serves as an introduction of the process of working with a customs agent to complete a customs declaration on CDS. Handling documents and forms for Customs formalities can be tough, our course aims to explain procedures in enough detail that attendees can feel more confident when dealing with a Customs Agent. The course contains a wealth of wide-ranging information including an Introduction to Trade, Business Responsibilities and the Importing and Export Processes.

Trading with Ireland and Northern Ireland

With the introduction of the various rules and changes Brexit has brought for exporters, the way the United Kingdom interacts with Ireland and Northern Ireland has changed sufficiently. Our course Trading with Ireland and Northern Ireland has been written to include the most current information to help UK businesses operate effectively and efficiently when trading with Ireland.

Whether you are currently trading or looking to trade with Ireland and Northern Ireland, the information provided will guide exporters on what the Northern Ireland protocol is, what procedures to follow when delivering goods and what paperwork requirements are needed for successful trade between the two countries.

The course will cover

• Trading between Northern Ireland and Great Britain post Brexit
• Trading between Northern Ireland and European Union post Brexit
• Trade between GB and Northern Ireland where the goods travel via Southern Ireland post Brexit
• Trader Support Service - how it can support businesses trading with Northern Ireland
• Time for questions and answers