With two weeks to go before the deadline, small and medium sized businesses in the North West are being encouraged to apply for funding to help them adapt to new customs and tax rules when trading with the EU.
The £20m Brexit Support Fund, which closes 30 June, enables businesses who trade with the EU to access up to £2,000 of funding for practical support including training and professional advice on new customs, rules of origin and VAT processes.
Since launching in March, more than 12,000 businesses across the UK have registered for the fund. In the North West, 297 businesses have submitted applications, with a total of £434,658 in funding applied for so far.
To be eligible for the grant, businesses must have no more than 500 employees and turnover no more than £100m. They must only import or export goods between Great Britain and the EU, or move goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. If businesses already import or export goods to and from a non-EU country, they are not eligible.
More information on the fund and how to apply can be found on Apply for a grant to help small and medium-sized businesses new to importing or exporting – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
