About half of Irish businesses that trade with the UK say they are struggling to understand the new customs requirements that will come into effect in January 2020. According to a recent report from Declaron, four in ten Irish businesses had yet to start planning for post-Brexit trade arrangements.
A lack of a trade agreement between the UK and Ireland and the Covid-19 pandemic have in many cases hampered Brexit preparation efforts. Despite the uncertainty, businesses need to plan for the changes taking place from 1 January 2021 in order not to put UK trade at risk.
It’s not too late to get your Brexit plan in place.
Avid Partners has created a Brexit Resource, collecting all available supports in one place; action checklists; links to virtual training, customs registration guidance; available grants, funding and more.
We recommend that you start with one of the checklists available from Enterprise Ireland, Local Enterprise Office or DBEI. This will help you scope out what needs to be done in your business. See below under Planning.
We are here to help. If you have any questions on this article please contact on info@avidpartners.ie or call us on 0818 303087
Planning
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Brexit Readiness Checker
Enterprise Ireland is supporting Irish businesses to assess their Brexit readiness across Customs, Finance, Strategic Sourcing and Serving your UK customer. Complete the Brexit Readiness Checker to receive a personalised report to help assess your business’ current readiness status and prioritise your actions before Jan 1st. Access the tool here
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Brexit Readiness Checklist
A comprehensive checklist prepared by Local Enterprise Office to help you assess your businesses’ level of Brexit readiness. Access the list here
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Getting your Business Brexit Ready – Practical Steps
Prepared by DBEI – this resource summarises 9 steps a business should take to manage forthcoming changes and to minimise any disruption and cost to your business. Access the document here
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Customs – Eight Steps to get Brexit Ready
Prepared by Enterprise Ireland . With the clock steadily ticking down to January 2021 and Brexit, it’s time for businesses to prepare for a very different trading environment with the UK. Unless an extension is sought thanks to the Covid-19 crisis, businesses that trade with the UK must be prepared to meet and pay customs requirements by then. This comprehensive article goes through how a business goes about registering with customs, paying your duties and lodging a customs declaration Read more
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Register to import or export
An excellent resource from gov.ie with all the resources and information you need to help you register for import an export including information for Agribusinesses. Read more
Customs Registration/EORI Number
What is it and why do I need it?
The Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number allows businesses to import or export with countries outside the European Union. The EORI number is a unique reference number recognised by all EU member states and is a requirement on all customs declarations and is a common reference number for interactions with the customs authorities in any EU Member State.
You can register for an EORI number on revenue’s site here.
All Irish EORI numbers are prefaced with the prefix IE and contain eight characters. It is closely aligned to your VAT number but requires a separate EORI registration with Revenue.
If you believe that you already have an EORI number, this can be verified by simply checking the EORI Number Validation service. Insert your VAT number prefixed by “IE” and select Validate.
Further guidance available from Revenue here
Access Training
– Skillnet/Clear Customs Virtual Training Programme
Delivered in partnership with Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and CILT Skillnet, the Free Clear Customs virtual training programme aims to upskill staff specifically in the area of customs procedures and documentation for continuous or future trade with or through the UK. Delivered free of charge in an online environment.
Suitable for: custom intermediaries, those currently involved in importing to /exporting from the UK; planning to import/export or logistics companies. Further information
– Local Enterprise Offices
A series of one-day interactive workshops, run regionally by Local Enterprise Offices, provide businesses with a better understanding of the potential impacts, formalities and procedures to be adopted when trading with a country which is outside the Single Market and Custom Unions (a “Third Country”). Open to all businesses, these workshops will cover areas such as what export and import procedures apply, how tariffs work and how to correctly classify goods. Full list of available workshops here
If you do not see a workshop near you on the list below, register your interest today with your Local Enterprise Office – you’ll find their contact details here.
– Enterprise Ireland Customs Insights Course
The online Customs Insights Course helps businesses understand the key customs concepts, documentation and processes required to succeed in a post Brexit world and is designed for Irish businesses dealing with customs for the first time. The course will give learners a firm understanding of customs, the implications for their business and the options from Revenue that are available to make the customs process more efficient. The course includes a dedicated section illustrating the key actions companies can take to prepare for customs after Brexit and includes a summary of the resources available to support you.
Enterprise Ireland have nine Prepare for Brexit webinars you can enjoy at your leisure.The Brexit Webinars outline the key issues Brexit presents and the practical steps to manage and reduce the impact on your business.
State Supports
Local Enterprise Offices
Find your local Enterprise office here
Financial Supports
Microfinance Ireland
New Brexit loan scheme for small businesses has been announced by Microfinance Ireland. Loan amounts between €5,000 and €25,000 will be available to companies whose turnover has dropped or is likely to drop by 15% due to Brexit. Firms with a short term cash flow need because of Brexit are also eligible. Eligibility criteria and application via the link below Read More
Local Enterprise Offices
For existing companies and potential start-ups that meet eligibility criteria (such as employing 10 or fewer people with the potential for growth and job creation), Local Enterprise Offices can offer three types of financial supports to help manage Brexit responses:
- Priming Grants
- Business Expansion Grants
- Feasibility Study Grants
Intertrade Ireland
€2,250 support voucher available, which is 100 per cent funded, so requires no cash contribution from the business. This funding facilitates a business to either attend a training course to fill a skills gap – such as how to complete basic customs paperwork – or to work on a one-to-one basis with an expert on a Brexit-related issue, like supply chains or trade agreements. See here
Enterprise Ireland
- Be Prepared Grant. Available from Enterprise Ireland for EI client companies currently exposed to the UK. Up to €5,000 available to assist in the cost of developing a strategic response to Brexit. Any applicant must complete the EI Brexit Scorecard before applying. Further details
- The Ready for Customs Grant will assist your business to increase its capacity to manage the customs process. Up to €9,000 is available for each new full-time employee engaged in customs work. The grant contributes to recruitment costs, employee costs and provision of IT infrastructure. Further details
- Strategic Consultancy Grant supports the hiring of a strategic consultant typically over a longer period to assist the company in the development and/or the implementation of strategic initiatives. It is designed to facilitate business growth as the consultants can act as coach, mentor, facilitator, analyst for the company. Eligible projects must be new assignments of strategic significance to the company such as a specific strategic review of one or more business functions e.g. review of the company’s treasury policy and/or implementation of a new strategic initiative e.g. preparation and implementation of new multi-currency forecasting tools and procedures. Further Details
- Market Discovery Fund specifically support companies in their market diversification plans. The grant aims to incentivise companies to research viable and sustainable market entry strategies. Companies can seek support to develop new geographic markets for existing/new products OR develop new products for existing geographic markets. It provides support towards internal costs e.g. wages/ salaries, foreign travel and market research material and external costs e.g. market consultants, trade fair expenses, rental of temporary office space. Further Details
- Agile Innovation Fund developed to support product, service, and process innovation to build competitive advantage. Compared to the other established Innovation supports from Enterprise Ireland, this fund is geared towards clients in sectors with rapid design cycles or have not previously applied for RD&I support. The key benefit of this support is that it allows for a simple application process and delivers a faster response time from application to approval. The new Agile Innovation Fund allows companies to access up to 50% in support towards innovation projects with a total cost of up to €300,000. Further Details
- New Operational Excellence Officer enables Irish companies trading internationally to develop or transform their wider business in order to compete more effectively. Through a single, integrated application process the offer allows eligible companies to access financial support for business or operational change projects as well as the capability building and capital investment associated with innovation. The goal is to incentivise and support the key elements of a larger transformation project leading to significantly increased competitiveness. Read more
Further Resources
– Single Administrating Document
A 15 minute instructional video from Chartered Accountants Ireland designed to help you complete the necessary customs returns when you are importing or exporting from Ireland with a non-EU country, or when importing or exporting from the UK. Access the video here
– Movement of Goods Post Brexit
Excellent summary by Chartered Accountant Ireland of the administration steps required fro movement of good between UK and Ireland post Brexit in the context of a deal or no deal. This article lists a number of mechanisms that can help in reducing the customs burden and some may apply to your business Read more
– How to use the EORI registration service
A short instructional video and guide prepared by Revenue. See her
– Revenue Brexit Guidance
Comprehensive guidance prepared by revenue. Including Brexit planning; information for customs declarations roles and responsibilities; information for customs agents and software developers. See here
– Department Business Enterprise and Innovation – Getting Brexit ready
A comprehensive resource of advice and information to assist businesses to get ready for Brexit changes. See here
– Small Firms Association
Brexit: A Guide For Your Business. See here
– Banking & Payments Federation of Ireland (BPFI)
BPFI warns Irish businesses using a UK based Payment Service Provider (PSP) to take steps now to ensure the uninterrupted processing of direct debit payments following Brexit. BPFI estimate that 80% of impacted transactions meet the new requirements, but has advised that businesses behind the remaining ones need to act now. Read more
RTE’s Boost My Business
Brexit Tips and Advice for Irish SMEs here
This page was last updated on 02/12/2020
We are here to help. Should you need assistance on any of the supports mentioned on this page, contact us at info@avidpartners.ie or call on 0818 303087
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