There is a £20 million SME Brexit Support Fund which could give you up to £2,000 to help with training or professional advice, if your business has up to 500 employees and no more than £100 million annual turnover.
Great for small businesses, but some might say that the Government put this grant in place about 3 months too late for many small businesses. However, it does acknowledge that many are still struggling with Brexit so if that is you and you want some free training you can apply for the grant to cover the costs.
This fund is only for small businesses that import/export between the UK and EU, if you already import/export from non-EU countries then you are not eligible.
PricewaterhouseCoopers is administering the SME Brexit Support Fund grants for HMRC and applications will close on the 30th of June 2021 or earlier if all funding is allocated before this date. Before you jump in and apply (which you can do here), check that you qualify based on the requirements below:
What can you use the SME Brexit Support Fund for?
- How to complete customs declarations
- How to manage customs processes and use customs software and systems
- Specific import and export related aspects including VAT, excise and rules of origin
- The grant can be used to get professional advice, so your business can meet its customs, excise, import VAT or safety and security declaration requirements.
Grant for Training
Grant for Professional Advice
Multiple applications can be made, but the maximum amount that can be paid to any applicant across both training and professional advice is £2,000. For example, if the full grant has been claimed for professional advice, no further grant can be claimed for training and vice versa.
Which businesses can apply?
- You must be:
- Be established in the UK
- Have been established in the UK for at least 12 months before submitting the application, or currently hold Authorised Economic Operator status
- Not have previously failed to meet its tax or customs obligations
- Have no more than 500 employees
- Have no more than £100 million turnover
- Only import or export goods between Great Britain and the EU, or move goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, if you already import or export goods from or to a non-EU country you are not eligible for his grant
Your business must also either:
- Complete (or intend to complete) import or export declarations internally for its own goods
- Use someone else to complete import or export declarations but requires additional capability internally to effectively import or export (such as advice on rules of origin or advice on dealing with a supply chain)
