Member Article

Companies in Coventry & Warwickshire are issued with a Brexit checklist to get prepared

Companies across Coventry and Warwickshire are being urged to get themselves Brexit-ready with the release of a new toolkit.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce has been one of the most active organisations in the country in preparing for the exit from the EU and has been working with firms across the region to help them prepare for the departure.

And, through its Brexit Club, the Chamber has released a new toolkit that gives guidance on what areas companies should be considering and actions they can take – even before the full detail of what Brexit will mean is known.

James Ahearne, the International Trade Commercial Executive at the Chamber, said the decisions made in the next few years will have a major impact on the prosperity of the region.

He said: “There is still a great deal of uncertainty but what we do know is that we will officially leave the EU on March 19, 2019 and that will be followed by a transition period that will last until December 31, 2020, based on the current timetable.

“Brexit will affect every region in the UK in different ways and, in Coventry and Warwickshire, it poses a unique set of risks and, also, opportunities.

“The decisions that are made over the next few years concerning trade, the Customs Union, EU workers’ rights, movement of people and the Government’s post-Brexit approach to regional development will affect the prosperity of Coventry and Warwickshire for many years to come and we must push for deals that protect trade, investment and jobs in our region.

“But whatever outcome we face, businesses must do all they can to plan for Brexit and understand the risks and opportunities that lie ahead.

“We can’t pretend that it’s easy, but there are many areas relating to Brexit where businesses can consider what the implications may be and begin to mitigate some of them.

“That is why we have released the toolkit and that is why, also, we have kept it as brief and targeted as possible. We can’t afford for companies to get Brexit lethargy because this is too big an issue for businesses to switch off from it.

“So we’ve focused on the key areas where companies can look at the potential implications of Brexit and consider what action they might need to take and what policies or procedures they may need to put in place.”

The Brexit toolkit is accessible on the Chamber Website www.cw-chamber.co.uk or by contacting the Chamber on 02476 654321 or info@cw-chamber.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .