Following a call by Make UK in our recent report on the impact of the new trading arrangements with the EU, the UK Government has launched a new £20 million SME Brexit Support Fund, offering support to help small businesses adjust to new customs procedures, rules of origin, and VAT rules when trading with the EU.

The SME Brexit Support Fund could give you up to £2,000 if your business has up to 500 employees, and no more than £100 million annual turnover.

SMEs who trade only with the EU, and are therefore new to importing and exporting processes, can apply for grants of up to £2,000, to pay for practical support including training and professional advice to ensure they can continue trading effectively with the EU.

For more information on the SME Brexit Support Fund, click here. To access full guidance on how you can use the grant, who can apply and how to apply, click here.

Commenting on the Government’s announcement of a new £20m SME Brexit support fund, Stephen Phipson CEO of Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation said:
 
“This is a welcome move from Government which recognises the severe difficulties which businesses have faced in adjusting to very complex rules with very little time.  This should provide practical advice and guidance, especially for SMEs who have faced the greatest challenges. 

“It is good news that this new fund is flexible and not just for companies who have decided to go down the difficult route of filling in customs declarations themselves, but can be used for any help they need in order to get their goods in and out of the EU more smoothly – from better understanding rules of origin to staff training.

“But nonetheless, there remains an urgent need for the Government to sit down with the EU and address the bottlenecks and red tape which still remain and which are adding substantial costs to doing business. These are more than teething troubles which, if not addressed threaten to become permanent structural barriers.”