UK launches £16-m fund to support businesses for trading after Brexit  

THE UK has launched a £16-million fund today (3) to train thousands of customs experts and support businesses for trading after Brexit.

The fund will help businesses to train staff in making customs declarations, and businesses who support others to trade goods to invest in IT.

The latest funding move is to ensure that trade with the EU continues as smoothly as possible after Brexit.

“Customs agents currently help businesses who trade outside the EU. This funding will help increase the capacity of the sector as businesses trading with the EU will consider whether to get an expert to complete customs documentation for them after Brexit,” HMRC said in a release.

The British government is determined to support the industry by both training more staff and becoming more efficient, in order to ensure that Britain is fully ready to leave the EU on October 31, whatever the circumstances, it added.

Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Jesse Norman, MP, said: “Brexit takes place on October 31, and we urge all businesses to make the necessary preparations to be fully ready. The government has doubled the support available so that thousands more customs experts are on hand to help businesses on and after Brexit day.

“...As part of the cash injection, border and customs operations will receive an additional £344m to be ready for Brexit, including by hiring more border officers and improving transport infrastructure around ports.”

Over 3,000 agents have already been trained as part of an £8m investment earlier this year, which has also been used to develop new online learning products for customs staff, such as an electronic learning package and a new UK Customs Academy.

This latest funding on Tuesday (3) will go further, with the additional £16m to be invested to help ensure businesses have all the support they need to get ready for Brexit.

Businesses based in or with a branch in the UK can apply for funding ahead of the UK leaving the EU.

The grants can be used to support training costs for businesses who complete customs declarations, or who intend to in the future.