UK Manufacturers need to prepare for end of the transition period Business Secretary urges

Posted on 12 Oct 2020 by Tom Lane

With just 81 days to go until the end of the transition period, Business Secretary calls on companies to act now to prepare.

The UK government is calling on business in the UK to prepare for the end of the transition period. From January 1st, 2021 will be a new start for the UK outside of the European Union and Business Secretary Alok Sharma will write in a letter to over 600,000 firms across the UK today urging them to prepare.

In his letter, the Business Secretary will call on businesses to familiarise themselves with the actions they will need to take, by visiting gov.uk/transition and using the checker tool.

When the transition period ends on 31 December 2020, there will be a guaranteed set of changes and opportunities for which businesses need to prepare as the UK leaves the customs union and single market, including changes to the way businesses import and export goods, the process for hiring people from the EU, and the way businesses provide services in EU markets.

To aid in this preparation the government will host a series of sector-specific webinars throughout October to remind businesses of the changes they need to make.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma said:  “With just 81 days until the end of the transition period, businesses must act now to ensure they are ready for the UK’s new start come January. There will be no extension to the transition period, so there is no time to waste. I urge all businesses across the country to check gov.uk to see what action they need to take, sign up for updates, or attend one of our sector-specific webinars.”

He concluded: “Businesses have a crucial role to play in ensuring a smooth transition, and we will be there to support them through this change every step of the way.”

The first of these is on Tuesday 13 October, focusing on services and investment.


Brexit - No Deal - United Kingdom and European Union - image courtesy of Depositphotos.


The launch of the webinars follows extensive Government engagement with businesses in recent months, including roundtables led by the Business Secretary and BEIS ministers with business leaders and representative organisations. These roundtables have focussed on the next steps for business as the UK prepares for our new relationship with the EU.

The webinars cover general areas that businesses of any shape and size will need to understand and act on, such as visas, work permits, and tariffs – as well as sector specific information.

Business sectors being covered by these webinars are:

  • Services and Investment       13 October
  • Retail                                     14 October
  • Automotive                            14 October
  • Metals and Materials             20 October
  • Electronics and machinery    21 October
  • Consumer Goods                  22 October
  • Life Sciences                         27 October
  • Construction                          28 October
  • Aerospace                             29 October