If you’re considering growing your business internationally, or if you have suppliers based overseas, you’ll probably already have heard of an EORI number.

From January 1 2021, businesses based in Great Britain have needed an EORI number (starting with GB) to import and export goods to the EU.

If you’re just getting started in importing or exporting, the registration process can seem daunting. Don’t worry though – we’ve got you covered.

Here’s all you need to know about the EORI system, who should register, how to apply and where to go for more help.

What is an EORI number?

An EORI number – which stands for an Economic Operator Registration and Identification number – is a unique ID code used to track and register customs information in the EU.

It’s used by customs and other authorities to monitor and track shipments coming into and out of the European Union.

Who needs an EORI number?

Companies importing goods into or exporting goods from the European Union need an EORI number. This number is used to exchange information with customs authorities.

As of January 1st, 2021 companies importing goods into or exporting goods from the United Kingdom need a UK EORI number.

You may need an EORI number if you move goods:

• Between Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) or the Isle of Man and any other country (including the EU)
• Between Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• Between Great Britain and the Channel Islands
• Between Northern Ireland and countries outside the EU

It’s helpful to know that if your company is part of a larger holding group, then the application must be processed by the parent company, not the subsidiary.

Some small firms have been automatically given an EORI number.

You will also need an EORI number if you need an export licence on SPIRE.

You won’t need one if you are moving goods that are not controlled goods and they’re for personal use only. 

To get an EORI number, your business normally needs to be based in the country that you’re importing goods to and from. Your premises needs to be one of the below:

• A registered office
• A central headquarters
• A permanent business establishment, where some of your customs-related activity takes place and your HR and technical resources are permanently located

However, if your premises isn’t based in the country your moving goods from or to, you can still get an EORI number if you’re:

• Making a customs declaration
• Making an entry summary declaration
• Making an exit summary declaration
• Making a temporary storage declaration
• Making a customs declaration for temporary admission or re-export declaration where you have a guarantee
• Acting as a carrier for goods transported by sea, inland waterway or air
• Acting as a carrier connected to the customs system and you want to get notifications on the lodging or amendment of entry summary declarations
• Established in the common transit country where the declaration is lodged rather than an entry summary declaration or is used as a pre-departure declaration

If you’re not eligible to apply for an EORI number by yourself, you’ll have to get someone to deal with customs on your behalf and they’ll need an EORI number.

Is an EORI number the same as a VAT number?

Is the EORI number the same as a VAT number?

An EORI number is not the same as a VAT number; however, if you are VAT registered, they are linked. When you submit your VAT registration, there is an option to also register for an EORI number.

Once this has been done, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will link all your imports to your VAT number. EORI numbers in the UK begin with the letters “GB”. This is followed by a 12-digit number, which is based on the business’s VAT number (for example, GB123456789000).

The format of an EORI number

An EORI number is made up of a country code, to show where the organisation or individual is registered, and a unique code or number. For GB businesses the number is made up as follows:

• VAT registered businesses: GB + VRN (VAT registration number) + 000
• Non-VAT registered businesses: GB + unique number issued by HMRC

It’s worth mentioning that you may still need an EORI number starting with GB to use some UK customs systems.

How to apply for an EORI number

If you’re based in the UK, then you’ll have to complete the correct paperwork to get an EORI number.

Apply for an EORI number that starts with GB

To apply for an EORI number you need your:

• Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) – find your UTR you do not know it
• Business start date and Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code – these are in the Companies House register
• Government Gateway user ID and password
• VAT number and effective date of registration (if you’re VAT registered) – these are on your VAT registration certificate
• National Insurance number – if you’re an individual or a sole trader

If you do not already have a Government Gateway user ID, you’ll be able to create one when you apply.

You’ll get your GB EORI number immediately unless HMRC needs to make any checks on your application. If they do, it can take up to five working days.

Apply for an EORI number that starts with XI

You will also need an XI EORI number if you move goods between Northern Ireland and non-EU countries. Your number will start with XI in this case.

You must have applied for a GB EORI number before you can get an XI EORI number.

If you’re not sent one automatically, you can apply online for an EORI number that starts with XI from December 11 2020. You can apply for an EORI number that starts with GB and one that starts with XI at the same time. You’ll get your number starting with XI within four working days.

To apply, you’ll need:

• Your XI VAT number (if you have one)
• Any VAT numbers issued by an EU country
• Two documents showing proof of your permanent business establishment in Northern Ireland, such as a bank statement or utility bill

However, you won’t be asked for proof of permanent business establishment in Northern Ireland if the establishment address is listed on your GB EORI application or you business isn’t based in Northern Ireland but you need an EORI for other reasons.

Which application form do I fill in?

Use this application form to register for a GB EORI number.

Use this application form to register for an EORI number starting XI.

These application forms are used for companies which will use couriers or freight forwarding services to import or export. If you’re applying for an EORI number to complete customs declarations yourself, you’ll need a different form. If you intend to use the CHIEF (or the replacement Customs Declaration Service) or NCTS systems, then you should use this application process.

What information do I need when applying for an EORI number?

The online application process for an EORI number is fairly straightforward – but you will have to have a number of details handy to complete it.

It’s worth noting that you’ll need to give details of the shipment you’re currently intending to clear in or out of the EU. The form can’t be completed ahead of time, and if you skip this information your application will be rejected.

Here’s what you can expect to need:

• The government website lists your business’s start date and Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code
• Your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)
• Your Government Gateway user ID and password

Individuals and sole traders should make sure they’ve got a note of their National Insurance number too.

How long will the EORI application take?

If you complete the paperwork correctly, you should have your EORI number by email straight away. But it can take up to a week, so if you need one, apply now. HMRC advises that you check your spam folder if the email doesn’t arrive, as it may have been delivered there instead.

You will also need an EORI number if you move goods between Northern Ireland and non-EU countries. Your number will start with XI in this case. To get an EORI number that starts with XI, you must already have an EORI number that starts with GB.

If you’re not sent one automatically, you can apply online for an EORI number that starts with XI from December 11 2020. You can apply for an EORI number that starts with GB and one that starts with XI at the same time. You’ll get your number starting with XI within four working days.

EORI checker

Before you submit your application for a new EORI number, you should check that your company is not already registered.

If your company is registered for VAT, it may have already been issued an EORI number automatically. EORI numbers are permanently associated with the company they’re issued to – so you won’t get another EORI number if you’ve simply forgotten yours.

You can check if your company has a number already easily with an EORI number validator.

Even if you’re not sure about needing one, it’s worth applying anyway – and the application is free.

How to find an EORI number by company name

If you need help finding an EORI number, you can contact the HMRC EORI team using their contact form. However, data protection regulations across the EU mean that you might not be able to get full data on a registered company if they’ve not consented to make their details publicly available.

What happens if you’re not EORI registered

If you don’t have an EORI number then you can’t import or export goods from the EU legally. This is because the number is used for customs declarations of all goods entering or exiting the EU. Without a number, you could face increased costs (such as storage fees) and delays.

How to contact the EORI team

If you need to get advice or ask questions about obtaining an EORI number, you have a few options:

• To get specific EORI advice, contact the HMRC EORI team using the details on this page
• For more general queries you can call HMRC on 0300 322 9434, Monday to Friday, 8am-10pm and Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays 8am-4pm
• Write to HMRC: HM Revenue and Customs – CITEX Written Enquiry Team, Local Compliance S0000, Newcastle, NE98 1ZZ

When you should contact the EORI team

The EORI team can help you with any initial queries you might have when you’re getting started with importing or exporting in the EU. However, you’ll also have to contact the EORI team for the following:

• To update your company details, such as the registered name, address or VAT number
• If you register for VAT for the first time
• If you don’t want to use your EORI number any more
• To remove your company details from the public EORI database

An EORI number is crucial if you’re planning on growing your business abroad, or working with suppliers based overseas. Getting set up shouldn’t be too tricky. Just follow the steps outlined here and your business could be working across borders in no time.

Read more

How Brexit is going to affect your business – #2 exports

The post EORI number: What it is and how to get or check one appeared first on Small Business UK.

If you’re already doing business abroad, you’ve likely heard of freight forwarders before. They promise to take much of the stress out of international shipping – and deal with all aspects of the transportation and delivery of your goods. In most cases they’ll also deal with customs clearance. But do you really need to use a freight forwarder for your shipment? Or is it an unnecessary waste of cash?

If you’re not sure whether a freight forwarder is necessary for your shipment, read on. In this article we’ll delve into what a freight forwarder actually is and does, how their costs are calculated, and where you might find a reputable agent if you decide you want to get some help with your shipment.

What is a freight forwarder?

A freight forwarder is an individual – or, more likely, a company – which arranges for goods to be transported from one place to another.

While this might sound straightforward enough, there’s actually a whole lot that goes on behind the scenes to make sure that product delivery you’re expecting makes it safely from your supplier to your office. A good freight forwarder, however, will make the process look seamless, efficient and simple.

It’s helpful to understand that there are both freight forwarders and customs brokers working in many markets. Customs brokers typically deal with the import and export side of international deliveries, including commodity codes, and EORI requirements – while freight forwarders are specialists in the logistics. However, many freight forwarders can also act as customs brokers, and pick up the end to end process of moving your goods including both logistics and customs requirements.

What does a freight forwarder do?

A freight forwarder will take control of getting your shipment from its origin to your store, home or office. That can involve any or all of the following steps:

• Arranging transport from the origin – such as your supplier’s factory or warehouse – to the port or airport for shipment
• Preparing documents, licenses and all relevant paperwork for export at the point of origin
• Negotiating, booking and loading cargo for sea or air freight
• Optimising cargo storage and flow – sometimes including packing of goods as well for specialist and /or dangerous items
• Setting up insurance and tracking delivery as needed
• Preparing documents (of carriage for example), licenses and all relevant paperwork for UK customs authorities
• Arranging haulage and delivery to your agreed location in the UK

How can they help?

The basic duties of a freight forwarder are set out above – but where they’re really helpful is in having the connections and experience to navigate the import/export process.

Often it’s not the freight forwarder themselves carrying out many of the steps listed above. They’ll often subcontract things like local haulage to a partner based in your supplier location, for example. But what makes a freight forwarder helpful – and often crucial – is that they have the contacts across the globe to find the right person needed to get the job done, whether you’re importing from Sao Paulo or Shanghai. There are also full-service online platforms available for SMEs to get quotes, book, pay and track shipments all from one place, such as Shipa Freight.

Having a skilled freight forwarder will cost you in upfront fees – but it should make the import process run smoothly, and reduce the risk of any unforeseen costs or nasty surprises.

For many entrepreneurs starting out in importing, using a freight forwarder can prove a helpful investment.

Tip: If you’re just getting your import business off the ground, it is worth researching the newer money transfer and digital finance companies now available. If you’re trading internationally and paying invoices to suppliers based abroad, using your regular bank could be more expensive. Even if their fees are low, they could be adding a margin to the exchange rate which makes the transfer more expensive.

In addition, if you’re finding that as your business grows you need to pay international suppliers more frequently, it might be worth considering a multi-currency borderless account. With this, you can can hold lots of currencies, switch between currencies instantly, and pay no fees to receive money, and switch between currencies as and when you need to. These days, paying overseas suppliers has never been easier.

What are the advantages of using a freight forwarder?

If you’re new to importing to the UK, or you just want the process to be as simple as possible, you might benefit from using a freight forwarder. Here are some advantages to consider:

• You’ll only need to deal with one person to arrange your shipment, rather than several different haulage and freight companies
• Many freight forwarders are experts in import/export paperwork, and can help you navigate the complex processes involved
• With their local connections, freight forwarders can find service providers all over the globe to complete your shipment
• Freight forwarders can negotiate on shipping, haulage and warehousing costs on your behalf
• Using a freight forwarder offers peace of mind – if something goes wrong, or you need to submit an insurance claim, they should be able to help out

What are the disadvantages of using a freight forwarder?

Of course, there are also some downsides to choosing a freight forwarder. Bear in mind the following:

• Using a freight forwarder can increase the overall costs of your shipment
• Using a freight forwarder means you don’t have control over the details of your shipment – you’ll be leaving all the details to a third party and need to trust them
• If you have the connections needed to arrange and negotiate your own shipment and haulage locally, you might be able to get better deals keeping the process in-house
• If you use a large forwarding company, for a relatively small shipment, your needs might not be prioritised
• Not all freight forwarders cover every market – and not all markets are well regulated. You’d need to check the credentials of your chosen supplier to make sure they can actually deliver what they say they can

How much does it cost to use a freight forwarder?

When you use a freight forwarder, in most cases, you’ll agree a quote for the entire end to end process of moving your shipment from its origin to your store or warehouse. That means that the costs are made up of something like 20 different elements on average.

It’s crucial you get an itemised quote from your freight forwarder, so you can see what is – and is not – covered. The core job of a freight forwarder is to arrange the transport logistics associated with your shipment. However, many will also deal with all customs clearance paperwork. It’s important to know exactly what services your chosen provider can offer. You can then compare quotes fairly, before signing a contract with your chosen provider.

On your itemised quote and contract you should see charges for things like these:

• Transport costs – often covering haulage to a port or airport at the supplier location, air or sea freight costs, and local transport in the UK to get to your delivery point. Costs might be calculated using cargo weight or volume – or both
• Product specific costs – very heavy items might need a crane for loading, perishable items might require refrigerated transport, or hazardous items could mean additional precautions and licenses are needed
• Palletisation or packing. Depending on how you’re shipping your items, they might need to be put on pallets to be loaded into a container, or packed for air freight
• Storage if needed before and after shipping
• Extra fees for specific routes, such as the Panama Canal, for peak delivery times, or because of the costs incurred when using specific ports
• Documentation costs, including export and import paperwork
• Insurance and surcharges to cover things like fluctuations in the price of fuel, or the currency exchange rates
• Administration or handling fees – payable to the freight forwarder specifically, and likely to be in the region of $35-75

Is a freight forwarder right for me?

If you’re new to importing, working with a supplier in an area where you’re not well connected, or simply want to make the import process go as smoothly as possible, using a freight forwarder might be a smart plan.

As you become more familiar with the export and import processes from your suppliers, and if you can build up a network of local haulage companies, and sea or air freight providers, you might become more confident about going it alone.

It’s good to know that in some markets, you can choose to employ a customs broker. They’ll deal with the customs documentation but not the transport logistics. This might be a consideration if you’re already well connected with local transport companies, but not to sure about the customs legislation relevant to your shipments.

How to find a freight forwarder

The biggest freight forwarding companies globally are DHL, Freightos, Kuehne + Nagel, DB Schenker, DSV and Sinotrans. These are good places to look if you want to get a feel for the market rates you can expect to pay.

A great way to get started is to get a number of quotes from a freight quote calculator (like this one from Freightos), which will provide several options from different companies to help you get a picture of the costs for your particular shipment. You’ll just need to enter the details of your shipment once, and the site will help you find quotations which can fit your needs.

It’s crucial you check exactly what the freight forwarder quote covers in each instance, and do some due diligence research. As we mentioned earlier, not all freight forwarding agencies are well regulated, so you’ll want to make sure your quotes are coming from a reputable supplier.

One good place to find experienced operators is on the British International Freight Association (BIFA) website.

Notes on Post-Brexit effects

Over two years have past since then end of the transition period (1 January 2021) and as you might expect, the process of moving goods to and from the EU has smoothed somewhat with experience.

If your business will be doing international trade with countries within the EU customs Union, this guide from Sage provides an excellent run-through of the main steps for freight forwarding for small businesses after Brexit.

Summary

Life is busy for any entrepreneur – and never more so than if you’re working in import/export, and needing to deal with suppliers all over the globe. Using a freight forwarding agency can take a load off your mind, as you’ll know a specialist has picked up the haulage, shipping and even customs processes for your goods. You can then get back to growing your business, safe in the knowledge your shipment is in good hands.

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If you’ve been researching your business options for importing to the UK, you’ve probably come across customs brokers offering to help make HMRC customs clearance hassle-free. Reducing the stress of importing is certainly tempting – but is it really necessary to use a customs broker, or can you deal with the authorities yourself?

This handy guide can help you decide whether using a customs broker is the best choice for your business. Read on to learn more about what a customs broker can do for you, what they’ll charge, and the pros and cons of using one for your shipment.

What is a customs broker?

A customs broker – sometimes referred to as an import broker – works to make the import and export of goods run smoothly, by facilitating the clearance of goods through customs processes.

Customs brokers are experts in international trade – it’s their job to keep abreast of the changing rules and regulations, and make sure that their clients have all the paperwork and licenses they need to import goods to the UK.

You’ll see that there are both freight forwarders and customs brokers advertising their services to UK entrepreneurs. Customs brokers typically deal with the import/export procedures, while freight forwarders are experts in logistics. However, many freight forwarding agents can also act as customs brokers, dealing with both logistics and customs requirements. If you’re thinking of using a freight forwarder to support the haulage and transport of your goods, it’s worth understanding if they offer import brokerage too.

What does a customs broker do?

A customs broker will work with importers to check that the documentation, and where necessary, licenses, are in place for the goods they are bringing into the UK. They’ll also make sure that the correct duty and taxes are paid, to reduce any delays.

Their services can include any of all of the following:

• Checking the classification and valuation of your goods, and making sure you use the right commodity codes
• Liaising with government agencies and customs authorities on your behalf
• Advising on any necessary licenses for import of restricted or hazardous goods
• Preparation and submission of documents which have to be filed to clear customs processes
• Helping arrange correct payment of import duties and VAT as necessary

How can they help?

One of the big advantages of using a customs broker is that they can help you navigate a complex and changing set of import and customs regulations. The UK customs code has seen a number of changes over the past few years – and more can be expected as Brexit approaches. This changing landscape is one reason that customs brokers are useful – if not essential – to importers.

For example, a customs broker will ensure you have all the correct paperwork in place for importing into the UK – such as your EORI number. They’ll make sure the shipment is labelled with the right commodity codes, and all the necessary documents and licenses are in place. And this will mean that your shipment clears customs into the UK without delays, and with no worries about paying over the odds in import duty, or being hit by a fine because of missing paperwork.

Tip: As a new importer, it’s important to know you may face fees or fines levied by customs authorities. But that’s not the only place you may see extra charges – and it’s good to know where you can save.

High street banks often charge high fees for international transfers, and markup the exchange rate. That means you could pay an extra margin right to the banks – without even knowing it.

There are other services, however, that are much cheaper. One is TransferWise, which can be up to eight times cheaper than UK high street banks to make an international transfer. How? They always give you the real, mid-market exchange rate – the one you’d find on Google – and charges just a small, upfront fee for every transfer. There are no hidden costs to worry about, so you can concentrate on your business.

In addition, if you need to pay international suppliers frequently you could save even more by setting up a Borderless account with TransferWise. It’s a multi-currency account that lets you keep your cash in over 40 different currencies, and switch between them instantly. Paying and getting paid with your borderless account could be cheaper and more convenient than using your high street bank.

What are the advantages of using a customs broker?

Using a specialist customs brokerage – or choosing a freight forwarder which can also act as customs broker on your behalf – can offer a number of advantages:

• Peace of mind – your customs broker will ensure your shipment is completed according to the current law. By hiring in this expertise you don’t need to learn it yourself, or employ someone in house to specialise in the area
• You can deal solely with your customs broker, rather than having to speak to several different government agencies individually
• Avoid overpaying duty or VAT – and remove the risk of underpaying and then facing fines and additional charges later
• Your goods won’t be released by UK customs until all the duty and VAT is paid, and documentation is in order. Using a customs broker can reduce delays and keep your business moving
• Many customs brokers also offer additional services, such as tracking your delivery as it moves from the point of origin

What are the disadvantages of using a customs broker?

There is no legal requirement to employ a customs broker – and if you’re an experienced importer you might decide against it. And as with everything – there are cons as well as pros, to using a customs broker. Here are a few downsides:

• In the UK, customs brokers don’t have the same licensing process as they do in the USA, for example. This means that you’ll have to closely check the credentials of your chosen provider and make sure they can deliver everything they say they can
• Using a customs broker can add costs, compared to dealing with customs clearance yourself
• Once you employ a customs broker you have less control over your shipment – you need to trust the agent you’ve chosen to act on your behalf

How much does it cost to use a customs broker?

Each customs broker will offer slightly different services, and their charges can therefore vary widely. If you’re using a freight forwarder, which will also act as your customs broker, then you should be able to see the customs element of their service detailed in their itemised quote and contract. You can then compare their costs to other organisations.

You’ll find that most customs brokers prefer to offer a tailored quote as their fee will depend on the products you’re importing, their value and point of origin. For example, if your goods need licensing then this could cause additional work for the broker, and they’ll add a fee for this. You can expect your itemised quote to cover items such as the following:

• Customs clearance charge – this is an admin cost, usually a flat fee
• Airline handling – assessed by delivery weight, at least £45, or any port authority fees levied for sea freight
• Airline bond transfer fee – assessed by delivery weight, at least £15
• Airline or port storage if this is needed during customs clearance
• For sea freight consolidated shipments – expect to see third party document, handover and other fees
• Government agency fees for inspections
• Bank transfer fees and agency fees, which could hit £65 or more, if the broker pays HMRC on your behalf
• Onward delivery costs if needed

There are some customs brokers which advertise a flat upfront fee – which can be as low as £29. While these offers might be worth considering, you’ll also do well to be wary of small print or added extras which can soon add up to a significantly higher fee. Make sure you’re very clear on what you can expect from your customs broker before you sign on the dotted line.

Is a customs broker right for me?

If you’re relatively new to importing, then having some support to navigate the customs processes is certainly helpful. Not only does it reduce the stress of importing, it also means that you don’t need to invest time and energy in learning about customs regulations yourself, or employ someone else in house to do so.

You might find that a standalone customs broker is what you need – or you might choose to use a freight forwarding agency which can also offer support with import brokerage. If you find that you’re importing high volumes of products, it might become worth learning more about the customs processes required, and bringing this in house. However, in the early days, many importers prefer to use an outsourced provider for peace of mind.

How to find a customs broker

If you’re using a freight forwarder to arrange the transport logistics of your delivery then it is worth asking if they offer customs and import brokerage too. If they do, this could be a good choice, as it means you’re only dealing with one outsourced provider rather than several.

Alternatively, you can find a customs broker fairly easily with a quick Google search. Not all brokers cover all points of entry – for example, some are more focused on air freight, rather than having a presence at sea ports. Narrow your search by location for better accuracy.

Because the services on offer are tailored to your specific delivery, you’ll need to give some details about what you’re importing to generate a quote. Get a number of itemised quotes for comparison, and don’t forget to check the credentials of any broker you are considering. Look for client reviews, and talk to them yourself if possible to make sure you trust their abilities and experience.

Using a customs broker to help clear your delivery through UK customs can make life much easier. You’ll pay for the service, but it can reduce the risks involved in importing, and mean that you get your goods more quickly. Most importantly, it’ll remove a distraction, and free you up to focus on your business. Often, that’s money well spent.

Further Resources

• Customs agents list from HMRC – Here you can find a customs agent or fast parcel operator to help you with import and export declarations.
• Register of Customs Brokers – A list provided by the UK Customs Academy
• Institute of Export & International Trade – Offers useful courses for exporters – e.g. ‘How to use the Customs Declaration Service’ or ‘Customs procedures and documentation’ etc. They also manage a website called: Open to Export which has a free to use online planning tool for small businesses wishing to trade internationally.
• NI Business Info Import and Export Procedures – Support for businesses for customs processes when moving goods into and out of Northern Ireland.

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The Prime Minister recently announced a provisional trade deal (agreement in principle) between the UK and Australia.

It’s significant because it’s the first deal negotiated from scratch since leaving the EU.

There’s been a mixed reception to the news, with some excited about cheaper imports. However, others are questioning how effective it’ll be for the economy and what the damage will be for businesses in the agricultural sector.

We’ve outlined what the government have said about the agreement so far and how industry experts have responded.

Less red tape for SMEs

Under the plan, red tape and bureaucracy will be scrapped for more than 13,000 small businesses across the UK who already export goods to Australia. The agreement will deliver quicker export times and ensure small business have access to new intelligence that will better allow them to take on opportunities created by the deal.

National chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, Mike Cherry, said:

“A trade deal with Australia will come as great news for many of our members who have long been exporting there as well as those who are hoping to expand their trade ambitions.

“As we look beyond the pandemic and enjoy the benefits of post-Brexit growth, deals like this will reap vast rewards to small firms right across the UK. Around 40 per cent of UK small firms who trade internationally do so already with Australia, and a trade deal that could be worth up to £900m will only increase those numbers.

“The inclusion of a small business chapter in this agreement will also ensure that the needs of smaller businesses are fully catered for in the years to come.”

Cutting tariffs on goods

Both the UK and Australia say they will commit to providing the most liberal treatment possible of the movement of goods between countries.

The proposed deal removes tariffs on £4.3bn of exports. This makes it cheaper to sell products like cars, whisky and ceramics into Australia.

Tariffs of up to five per cent will be removed on whisky while tariffs on machinery and manufacturing goods will be removed under the deal and customs procedures will be simplified. Car manufacturers in the midlands and north of England will see tariffs of up to five per cent cut, boosting demand for their exports.

With all this said, experts think there’ll be more in it for Australia than the UK. The UK Trade Policy Observatory (UKTPO) forecasts UK sales growth of just 0.35 per cent from the agreement while Australia’s businesses will see a rise of 2.2 per cent. The UKTPO study concludes that the increase won’t be great because Australia is far away, its economy is small and the tariffs were low to begin with.

The BBC reported that the trade deal will add 0.02 per cent to UK GDP over 15 years. In 2019, the UK exported about £12bn worth of goods to Australia, though that will hopefully increase following a finalised trade deal. That’s a tiny sum compared the £294bn exported to the EU in the same year.

Benefits for service sectors

The UK exported £5.4bn worth of services to Australia in 2020, which accounted for 56 per cent of the UK’s total exports to the country. The combined effect of the deal’s provisions gives UK and Australian service professionals access to each other’s markets. On top of that, reduced barriers to investment will give a substantial lift to the UK’s service sectors.

More freedom of movement for work between UK and Australia

The deal is set to extend the current three-year working-holiday visa for under 30s to under 35s when borders reopen. However, some level of Covid travel restrictions could be in place for another year.

A new innovation and skills exchange system has been outlined as well, promising early career mobility both ways, across culture, industry and the arts. It’s hoped that these conditions will be in place within the next five years.

Concerns over farming

Farmers continue to be concerned about the implications of the trade deal. One key worry is that the UK will be inundated with cheaper Australian meat that’s produced to a lower standard. In Australia, they’re allowed to use pesticides and hormone growth promoters that are banned in the UK.

Australia will be able to export a certain amount of produce tariff-free. Australia’s trade ministry said that beef tariffs will halt after ten years with a duty-free quota of 35,000 tonnes starting straight away. This will increase to 110,000 tonnes in year ten. Sheep and lamb tariffs will also end after ten years, with exporters getting access to a tariff-free quota of 25,000 tonnes immediately. This will rise to 75,000 tonnes after ten years. Sugar tariffs will be scrapped after eight years and dairy tariffs will end after five years.

National Farmers Union (NFU) president, Minette Batters, said: “We have repeatedly raised our concerns about this level of tariff liberalisation on sensitive sectors, such as beef, lamb and sugar, and the subsequent impact this could have on domestic producers if they are undercut by imports.

“These are enormous volumes and it’s not clear at all that the safeguards that have been announced will have any effect. For example, the fifth year of the tariff safeguard on lamb would only kick in if Australian producers have already shipped over 150 per cent of the UK’s current import requirement. It’s hard to know if it is British lamb producers or the carrying capacity of our docks that are really being safeguarded here.”

In response to concerns from farmers, the government stress that the deal would include protections for the agriculture industry.

Opportunities in digital and tech

The deal will create opportunities for the UK’s digital and tech sectors, preparing us to lead in industries like AI, space exploration and low emissions technology. The deal will facilitate the free flow of data, meaning UK businesses won’t have to set up servers in Australia. They can also maintain personal data protection standards for British consumers.

CEO of techUK, Julian David, commented: “The free flow of data provisions and the ban on data localisation will allow our SMEs in particular to explore the market without the cost of having to set up servers.”

Further deals and the CPTPP

This trade deal may lead to similar agreemnets in other large economies such as the USA.

The UK could also gain access to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). At the time of writing, negotiations started between the UK and Japan’s Yasutoshi Nishimura, this year’s chair of the CPTPP.

It’s one of the largest trading areas in the world, covering £9trn in GDP and 11 pacific nations, accounting for 13 per cent of global GDP in 2019. This would rise to 16 per cent after the UK’s accession. The current members are:

• Australia
• Brunei
• Canada
• Chile
• Japan
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• New Zealand
• Peru
• Singapore
• Vietnam

The government say that being part of the CPTPP would open new markets for service industries, lower tariffs and open new opportunities for farmers. With CPTPP countries set to account for 25 per cent of global import demand for meat by the end of the decade, joining would support farmers selling high-quality produce like beef and lamb into fast-growing markets.

CPTTP is particularly advanced in both digital and services trade. An agreement would make it simpler for the UK to sell services digitally and cheaper and easier for tech firms to expand abroad.

Joining CPTPP would also open new financial and professional services markets for British firms, making it easier for highly skilled British worker to live and work in member countries.

The Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan and the Republic of Korea have all expressed interest in joining the CPTTP, presenting opportunities for further growth. Negotiations will be taking place over the coming months.

What happens next?

A legal text will be written up that MPs will have a chance to scrutinise, though they won’t be able to do so until later in the year. Food hygiene and animal welfare are critical issues to be explored here.

It’s important to note that the final trade deal, and the finer details, are still to be established. We’ll be updating this article as more information comes through.

Read more

What is the Business Banking Resolution Service (BBRS)?

The post The UK-Australia trade deal and what it means for small business appeared first on Small Business UK.

Whatever form Brexit takes, it’s going to make life more complicated for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). But when placed in the context of a recession caused by a continuing global pandemic, it makes the route ahead incredibly uncertain – especially for those businesses trading overseas. Open Banking provides clues to a way forward for SMEs, but some major opportunities have been missed thus far. With a unique understanding of Open Banking, Currensea is providing SMEs with simplicity and transparency over their international transactions and helping them find the clearest route through 2021.

SMEs in 2020

In many ways, SMEs are the heart of the UK economy; in 2019, there were 5.9 million SMEs in the country, providing employment to 16.6 million people and seeing an estimated turnover of £2.2 trillion.

Up to 4.72 million of these SMEs trade internationally and a quarter of them have had to slow or halt overseas trading due to the restrictions of the pandemic. In fact, SME exports have dropped by around 10 per cent – this alone has cost the UK up to £20 billion.

But the pandemic is not the only complicating factor for SMEs; Brexit has been hanging over business owners for over four years and its final deadline is quickly approaching. Regardless of this, Europe remains the UK’s biggest trading partner, making up 75 per cent of SME international trade, and it is unlikely that this will change overnight.

By the January 1 2021, all UK companies will be required to operate under new customs and border policies – and the lack of transparency over exactly how this will impact businesses has left many decision makers hesitant to invest in preparations.

Rough seas ahead

Thanks to a report commissioned by Currensea and in partnership with research agency Vitreous World, we can see how this these impacts are affecting UK businesses. Regardless of the lack of clarity in policy changes, 45 per cent of SMEs report that they will continue their international trading as usual post-Brexit.

However, the remaining 55 per cent represent the uncertain majority. They are those who have been left with a difficult decision: to either halt their international trade at the expense of business and seek out other more certain avenues for trade, or to take a risk and press on blindly.

Richard Greening, the Global Technical Director at Business Process Outsourcer, said that larger companies are generally prepared for Brexit; whereas SMEs are struggling because they remain unable to predict the post-Brexit operating environment and lack the financial padding of larger companies. Therefore, were they to make the wrong investment and take a hit, they would subsequently suffer.

Although Greening is referring solely to Brexit, the sentiment remains the same for COVID. In fact, regardless of the form Brexit takes, its effects will only be compounded for small businesses who are operating in an economy that’s damaged by a lockdown to which there is no clear end.

But there are tools at the disposal of SMEs that can help them clear a path through; one such is Open Banking.

What is Open Banking?

For all the complexities associated with leaving the European Union, Open Banking is a global trend that was, ironically, implemented in the UK as a directive from the Competition and Markets Authority, shortly after the passing of European legislation known as the second Payment Services Directive, or PSD2.

Open Banking broke open the monolithic banking industry to innovation – forcing banks to open up to third party APIs (APIs simply being an intermediary piece of software that defines and facilitates the communication of two or more applications). Open Banking allows third party providers to access bank account data, via these APIs, in a secure and standardised manner.

What’s exciting for SMEs right now is that Open Banking provides them direct access to the innovations that can provide much needed simplicity over the coming months.

A recent example of Open Banking in action is the account aggregation being spearheaded by Monzo: this allows participants to transfer funds between their Monzo account and different banks without needing to enter their login information for the secondary banks.

But many of the capabilities being championed by disruptor banks like Monzo and Revolut are only scraping the surface of the potential transformation that could be delivered through innovative Open Banking. For example, when it comes to international payments for SMEs, these Fintechs still charge businesses for individual overseas transactions.

This is possibly why, two years since the introduction of Open Banking, few businesses are capitalising on the myriad of simplifying capabilities it can offer.

Cutting through complexity

Regardless of the details of all the complications of Brexit and the COVID crisis, it boils down to one issue: the pandemic has hit every business hard; unemployment is high, and these small and medium businesses make up a huge chunk of an already damaged economy.

We should be seeking out any way of making business flow a little easier – not just for established businesses, but for anyone with entrepreneurial flair who is looking to trade overseas. And there are solutions out here that are specifically designed for SMEs.

One avenue that businesses trading overseas can look to is Currensea. Available thanks to an in-depth understanding of the untapped capabilities presented by Open Banking, Currensea makes the process of international payment as simple and as transparent as possible.

Keep it simple

It doesn’t matter what your business is and or what you’re buying – whether you’re renewing your Amazon Web Service subscription or bulk ordering five thousand items of clothing to design and re-sell as merchandise. When you make that purchase with your Currensea card, you know two things:

1. You’re getting the best possible inter-bank exchange rate – 24/7
2. You’re getting the lowest possible payment fee: zero per cent

At the end of the day, SMEs purchase and sell overseas for the best possible value – so why undercut this with expensive payment fees and sub-optimal exchange rates?

Currensea

In the year of complexity, simplicity is not only craved by SMEs – it’s required. Which is why, thanks to a clever application of Open Banking, Currensea links to your existing business account seamlessly, thus removing all the obstacles between you and the best value overseas transactions possible in 2021.

To get your own Currensea card, or to find out more about exactly how much you could save on your common overseas transactions, head over to Currensea.

Read more

How Brexit is going to affect your business – #1 imports

The post Keeping 2021 simple for small and medium-sized enterprises appeared first on Small Business UK.

UPDATED: The Government has admitted that British companies trading with Europe will have to fill in an extra 215 million customs declarations a year post Brexit.

And this post Brexit customs bureaucracy burden will cost British businesses around £7bn a year, according to Government officials.

The Government is poised to announce another £50m to support the hiring and training of some 50,000 new customs officers, as well as buy the IT infrastructure to cope with the 215m new customs declarations. This is on top of £84m provided so far.

However, insiders say the whole scheme has been ill thought out and does not leave nearly enough time to train customs officers property. The £50m figure works out at just £1,000 to recruit and train each new agent, a process which can take anything up to one year.

Duncan Buchanan of the Road Haulage Association said that there are not nearly enough new customs agents in place before the December 31 Brexit deadline. Buchanan said there was not enough time to train agents to the right standard, potentially causing chaos at borders.

And a report from the Institute for Government thinktank said that the £84m provided by Government to date to train new customs agents so far will not be enough to cover the number of agents required to handle 215m new pieces of customs clearance paperwork.

In 2018, former HMRC head Jon Thompson estimated that the cost of each customs declaration could be £32.50 each but that could go as high as £55.

You will need an EORI number

UK businesses trading with EU countries need to obtain an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number if they do not already have one. UK businesses trading with the EU should (if they do not already have one) apply for a UK EORI number from HMRC, to ensure they can still move their goods into and out of the UK post-Brexit.

See also: What is an EORI number and how to get or check one

You can apply for a UK EORI number here.

You will also need an EU EORI number

You will also need an EU EORI number when you export to the European Union. You should apply for an EU EORI number from the customs authorities in whichever EU state you deal with the most, to ensure you can still move your goods into and out of the EU. Get this from the customs authority in the EU country where you submit your first declaration or request your first decision. You can find a list of EU customs websites here.

Similarly, EU businesses intending to continue trading with the UK will need to apply for a UK EORI number post-Brexit (though unlike the European Commission, the Government has indicated that there will be a post-Brexit grace period, in which EU businesses can continue using their EU EORI number to bring goods into the UK while they wait to get a new UK number).

Relieving the red-tape burden

One way to relieve the customs burden for businesses will be to use a customs agent to process your Brexit paperwork.

According to the Institute for Export and International Trade (IOE) half of the 1,000 exporters surveyed in a straw poll said they intended to use intermediaries post December 31, while the other half said they would handle their own submissions.

What does a customs agent do?

A customs agent – also known as a customs broker or import broker – works to make the import and export of goods run smoothly, by facilitating the clearance of goods through customs.

Customs agents are experts in international trade – it’s their job to keep abreast of the changing rules and regulations, and make sure that their clients have all the paperwork and licenses they need to import goods to the UK.

What’s the difference between a customs agent and a freight forwarder?

It’s helpful to understand that there are both freight forwarders and customs agents working in many markets. Customs brokers typically deal with the import and export side of international deliveries, including commodity codes, and EORI requirements – while freight forwarders are specialists in the logistics. However, many freight forwarders can also act as customs agents, and pick up the end to end process of moving your goods including both logistics and customs requirements.

The role of the customs agent

A customs agent will work with small business owners to check that the documentation, and where necessary, licenses, are in place for the goods they are bringing into the UK. They’ll also make sure that the correct duty and taxes are paid, to reduce any delays.

Their services can include any of all of the following:

• Checking the classification and valuation of your goods, and making sure you use the right commodity codes
• Liaising with government agencies and customs authorities on your behalf.
• Advising on any necessary licenses for import of restricted or hazardous goods
• Preparation and submission of documents which have to be filed to clear customs processes
• Helping arrange correct payment of import duties and VAT as necessary

One of the big advantages of using a customs agent is that they can help you navigate a complex and changing set of import and customs regulations. More changes to the customs code can be expected as Brexit looms.

For example, a customs agent will ensure you have all the correct paperwork in place for importing into the UK – such as your EORI number. They’ll make sure the shipment is labelled with the right commodity codes, and all the necessary documents and licences are in place. And this will mean that your shipment clears customs into the UK without delays, and with no worries about paying over the odds in import duty or being hit by a fine because of missing paperwork.

>See also: Customs brokers: Everything you need to know

What are the advantages of using a customs agent?

• Peace of mind – your customs agent will ensure your shipment is completed according to the current law. By hiring in this expertise you don’t need to learn it yourself, or employ someone in house to specialise in the area
• You can deal solely with your customs agent, rather than having to speak to several different government agencies individually
• Avoid overpaying duty or VAT – and remove the risk of underpaying and then facing fines and additional charges later
• Your goods won’t be released by UK customs until all the duty and VAT is paid, and documentation is in order. Using a customs agent can reduce delays and keep your business moving
• Many customs agents also offer additional services, such as tracking your delivery as it moves from the point of origin

Where can I find a customs agent?

The Government has published a list of authorised customs agents ahead of Brexit, and that list is continually updated.

Name	Phone number	Email address
1st  Seakargo Ltd	01473 375030	info@seakargo.com
1st FreightBookers Worldwide Ltd	01202 666777	info@freightbook.com
1st Penguin Shipping Ltd	01794 830 555	stephen@penguin-shipping.co.uk
2XL UK	01482 904 301	Hugo.donche@ecs2xl.com
4PL Consultancy Ltd	44 7980181209	vishalmathur@4plconsultancy.co.uk
512 (Doncaster) Limited	01302 217512	Dom@5-1-2.com
512 Sheffield Ltd	01709 550512	cory@5-1-2.com
A A Freight UK	01394 673533	sam@freightuk.co.uk
A B Cargo	03300 417 227	tony@abcargo.co.uk
a. hartrodt (UK) Limited Liverpool Office	+44 151 2362846	info.liv@hartrodt.com
a. hartrodt (UK) Limited London Office	+44 208 8483545	info.lon@hartrodt.com
A.M. Shipping Ltd	01277 810 811	tony@amshipping.com
AAA Freight Services Ltd	0203 9269 999	mo@aaafreightservices.com
AAI Group	+ 44 1268 886820	london@aai-intl.co.uk
Abacus Express Logistics Ltd	01753 686442	info@abacusexpresslogistics.com
Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce	01224 343908	chambercustoms@agcc.co.uk
ACC Shipping Ltd	01474 330 050	clearances@accworldwide.com
ACE Forwarding Limited	01224 773 776	Terry@dgm.co.uk
ACP Freight Services	02392 862 112	customs@acpfreight.com
Action International Freight	01704 551234	hq@actiion-inter.com
Active Freight Management Limited	01784 473900	imports@active-freight.com
Admark Shipping Solutions Limited	01394 338224	mark.pilsworth@admarkshipping.co.uk
Advantage Worldwide (UK) Limited	01932 758920	uksales@advantageworldwide.co.uk
Advantage Worldwide (UK) Limited – Glasgow	0141 887 2368	gla@advantageworldwide.co.uk
Advantage Worldwide (UK) Limited - London Heathrow	01932 758920	uksales@advantageworldwide.co.uk
Advantage Worldwide (UK) Limited - Manchester	0161 437 0437	mansales@advantageworldwide.co.uk
Aerona Customs Clearing Agents Ltd	0161 652 3443	sales@aeronacca.co.uk
AGI Global Logistics Ltd	01179 561567	sales@agi.global
Agility Logistics Limited	0161 868 2852	brexit@agility.com
Air & Ocean Logistics Ltd	01753 689 820	operations@airoceanlogistics.co.uk
Air Cargo Trader Ltd	0208 638 5754	info@act-cargo.co.uk
Air Sea Logistics Ltd	01753 687411	imports@airsealogistics.com
Air Sea Scotland Ltd	0141 887 8877	scott@airseascotland.scot
Airport Cargo Ltd	0208 890 0055	info@airportcargoltd.co.uk
Airsupply Shipping Agents	01753 689 365	info@airsupplyshipping.com
AIT Worldwide Logistics (UK)	01753 680300	london@aitworldwide.com
AIT Worldwide Logistics (UK)	01392 449300	exeter@aitworldwide.com
AIT Worldwide Logistics (UK)	0161 437 0300	manchester@aitworldwide.com
Alegrant ltd	44 (0) 7747 607710	Catherine@alegrant.com
Alinea London Limited	020 7101 4242	holly@alinea.org.uk
Alinnza Trading London Ltd	07840 191 477	ezequield@alinnzatrading.com
All Cargo UK Ltd	07587 137436	info@allcargouk.com
Allair Global	03339 884 848	Heathrow@allairglobal.com
AllClear Logistics Limited	01473 274 001	imports@allclearlogistics.com
Alliance Heathrow	0208 818 7780	heathrow@allianceshippinggroup.co.uk
Alliance Shipping Birmingham	01527 597 777	birmingham@allianceshippinggroup.co.uk
Alliance Shipping London	01268 410 211	lon@agc.as
Allseas Global Logistics	0161 272 8989	info@allseasglobal.com
Allways International Freight Forwarding Ltd	44 (0)1708 227711	mailto:mp@allwaysinternational.co.uk
Alpi UK Limited	01753 210060	customs@alpiuk.com
ALS Customs Services Ltd	01784 424 545	gpotter@als-cs.com
AL-SQR Express Ltd	44 2088 111445	haitham@alsqrexpress.com
AMT Intercargo UK Limited	44 (0)1 224 772 120	freight.uk@amt-sa.com
Anchor Freight Ltd	01473 928 200	Freight@anchor-freight.co.uk
Anderson Harvey Lake & Co	0121 784 5101	info@andersenharvey.co.uk
Andrews Shipping & Fwdg Ltd	0208 805 5588	andreas@andrewsshipping.com
Anglia Forwarding Ltd	01394 694670	Sandiesaul@anglia-forwarding.co.uk
Anglo Freight (UK) Ltd	02380 171811	chris.goodman@anglofreight.co.uk
Anjon Freight Services Limited	0151 227 1942	ray@efs.co.uk
APLL UK Ltd	44 (0)208 5363441	Ian_Harris2@apllogistics.com
Aprile UK Ltd	01992 578 387	s.yilmaz@uk.aprilenet.com
Aquarius Airfreight Services Ltd	02088 142 873	Info@aquariusairfreight.co.uk
Aramex UK Ltd	01753 210 500	aramexukenquiries@aramex.com
ASCO Freight Management Ltd	01224 470 599	afm.ops@ascoworld.com
ASG Logistics Ltd	020 8629 2588	imports@asglogistics.com
ASM Freight Services Ltd	020 8572 5792	info@asmfreight.co.uk
Association of Freight Software Suppliers	07484 856 368	steve.bartlett@afss.org.uk
Atlantic Pacific Global Logistics Ltd	01268 582 776	sales@atlantic-pacific.com
Aviation Support Ltd	01753 757 100	shipping@aviation-support.co.uk
Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce	01292 678 666	ecert@ayrshire-chamber.org
Aztek International Freight Limited	01268 286 444	nick@aztekintl.com
B E Freight Movements Ltd	0845 055 9918	jude@befreight.co.uk
B&H Worldwide Ltd	02087 595 544	mventham@bhworldwide.com
Balkans Direct Ltd	01304 821 553	office@balkansdirect.com
Banks & Lloyd (Shipping) Ltd	01625 441 200	info@banksandlloyd.com
Barker & Hood Ltd	01206 215700	colchester@barker-hood.co.uk
Barnsley and Rotheram Chamber of Commerce	01709 386200	export@brchamber.co.uk
BDA Overseas Ltd	01753 680203	ops@bda-cargo.co.uk
BDP International UK Ltd	01322 388870	bdp.enquiries.uk@bdpint.com
Beamish Freight Solutions Ltd	07771 366 051	sally@beamishfs.com
Beckchoice Ltd	01375 489840	info@beckchoice.co.uk
Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce	01582 522 448	export@chamber-business.com
Bethan Customs Consultancy Ltd	01651 269 980	info@bethancc.com
Bettafreight Services	0121 783 9933	Chris@bettafreight.co.uk
Black Country Chamber of Commerce	0330 024 0820	export@blackcountrychamber.co.uk
Blaiklock Limited	01932 598444	operations@blaiklock.uk.com
Blair Consular Services Ltd	01784 254 123	customsdeclarations@blairconsular.co.uk
Bluewater Shipping UK Ltd	01224 771 191	bwopsaberdeen@bws.dk
BMW Shipping Agents Ltd	023 8022 3472	rogerb@bmw-shipping.co.uk
Boast International Ltd	01394 276 086	des@boast.co.uk
Bollore Logistics UK Ltd	0151 243 6930	christine.masters@bollore.com
Braid Logistics UK Ltd	0141 445 2525	lgraham@braidco.com
Bridges Logistics & Fulfilment Ltd	0208 467 9955	cherylmillar@bridgeslogistics.com
Bring Cargo Ltd	44 1469 575700	scott.long@bring.com
Britannia Bureau Ltd	01621 856 444	enquiries@britanniasolutions.com
Broadside Customs Clearance Agency Ltd	01394 286200	info@broadsidecca.co.uk
Bronel Group Limited	44 1268 820272	info@bronel.com
Brooklands International Freight Services Ltd	01737 823575	ops@bifs.net
Brunel European LTD	01268 243 610	paige@bruneleuropean.co.uk
Brunel Shipping	01268 243 610	info@brunelshipping.co.uk
Brunswick International – Liverpool	0151 933 1315	steve.crane@brunswickinternational.co.uk
Buckle Shipping	01394 600 702	Tom@buckleshipping.com
Bullet Express Ltd	0330 102 7500	worldwide@bulletexpress.co.uk
Burhill Cargocare Limited	01784 473 815	deryck@burhill-cargocare.co.uk
Burhill Logistics Ltd	01394 612 000	commercial@burhilllogistics.com
Business West	01275 370 712	ezcert@businesswest.co.uk
C & R Global Logistics Ltd	0161 533 0797	sales@crgloballogistics.com
C Logistics Ltd	0208 527 0393	info@clogistics.co.uk
Caledonian Freight Ltd	01324 472 611	ops@caledonianfreight.com
Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce	01223 237414	enquiries@cambscci.co.uk
Campbell McCleave & CO Ltd	0289 442 3388	imports@cmcair.co.uk
Cannon Freight Ltd	01902 456785	ian@cannonfreight.co.uk
Cardinal Maritime Limited	0151 705 1801	Karl.Heron@cardinal.co.uk
Cargo Air Freight Ltd	0289 037 3740	info@cargo-air.co.uk
Cargo Forwarding Ltd	0289 037 3700	info@cargo-forwarding.co.uk
Cargo Gallery International Logistics co Ltd	01942 877274	info@cgipost.com
Cargo Overseas Ltd	0161 498 6111	eucustoms@cargo-overseas.co.uk
Cargo World Logistics Limited	01925 940 040	hello@cargoworldlog.com
Carlton Freight Ltd	0151 707 1224	enquiries@carltonfreight.com
Casper Shipping	01642 243 662 (Option 2)	customs@casperltd.com
Cavalier Logistics UK LTD	0203 887 1350	dvanturton@cavlog.com
Cavendish Freight services	01394 612118	vicki@cavendishfreight.co.uk
CBI Global Freight Management Ltd	0161 870 8760	nigel.sleigh@cbiglobal.com
CCL - Customs Clearance Ltd	0208 231 0900	cs@ccllhr.com
CCT Worldwide (UK) Customs Services Ltd	01634 711 969	customs@cct worldwideltd.com
CEVA Logistics	01394 606 115	Helen.Bird@cevalogistics.com
CH Robinson Worldwide (UK) Limited	01753 683288	graham.betts-bucke@chrobinson.com
Chamber International	0845 034 7200	info@chamber-international.com
ChamberCustoms (All UK Ports)	0207 654 5800	info@chambercustoms.co.uk
Chambers & Cook Freight Ltd	0121 356 1441	info@ccfreight.com
ChannelPorts Ltd	01304 218 302	brexit@channelports.co.uk
Charles Kendall Freight Ltd	0208 384 9494	compliance@charleskendall.com
Charlton House Ltd	0845 054 2302	seanna.whitmore@customsadvisory.co.uk
CHD Forwarding Ltd	01394 674 669	imports@chdforwarding.co.uk
CIE Services Ltd	07990 844 605	rachel@cieservices.co.uk
CLA UK	0116 279 0930	Operations@cla-uk.com
Claridon Group Ltd	01375 656100	imports@claridon.com
Clarksons Port Services	02890 242 242	Mark.ewings@clarksons.com
Clear Fr8 Ltd	01304 806 425	operations@clearfr8.com
Clearing Customs UK Ltd	44 0 35351382657	johndawson@bell.ie
Comac Freight Services Ltd	44 (0) 1489 799050	phil@comac-freight.co.uk
Cool Cargo Logistics Ltd	020 8577 0033	info@coolcargo.co.uk
Corvus Air Cargo Ltd	01274 623900	info@crowoverseas.co.uk
Cory Logistics	0139 460 1146	brexit@corylogistics.com
COSCO SHIPPING LOGISTICS UK	01394 601580	customs@coscoshipping.co.uk
Cosdel UK	44 (0) 1304 803 000	peter@cosdel.com
Courier Network Ltd	01753 683368	ops@couriernetwork.co.uk
CROFT CARGO Ltd	01274-733604	sales@croftcargo.com
Crow Overseas Freight	01274 623111	info@corvusair.co.uk
Customs & Trade Compliance Limited	0208 144 6408	Compliance@Cutraco.com
Customs Clearance Consortium	0333 012 4819	info@eori.uk
Customs connect Limited	44 (0) 161 813 1986	Deborah.doran@customsconnect.co.uk
Customs Insights Consultancy Ltd	0130 421 1652	enquiries@customsinsights.co.uk
Customs specialist in the food, sanitary, phytosanitary and health industry
Customs specialist in the food, sanitary, phytosanitary and health industry
Customs Wise	353 1 8665644	imports@customswise.co.uk
CustomsLink	44 (0) 1772 368002	help@customs-link.com
D.S. Freight Services Ltd	01753 682153	ops@dsfreight.co.uk
Daily Groupage Services Ltd	01304 201007	dover@dailygroupage.com
Damco UK Ltd	0208 751 6217	heathrowhubimportsuk@damco.com
dap UK Limited	+ 44 (0) 1394 670058	Ianwhite@ntgdap.co.uk
Dartswift International Ltd	44 (0) 151 236 2035	www.dartswiftintl.com
Davies Turner & Co Ltd	03300 301 870	road@daviesturner.co.uk
Davies Turner Air Cargo Ltd	01753 680 828	aircargo@daviesturner.co.uk
DB Schenker and Schenker Ltd	0208 831 4537	CST.UK@dbschenker.com
Deloitte LLP	01223 259 424	Kjudd@deloitte.co.uk
Denholm Global Logistics Limited	[+44] (0)1375 363338	gary.hopkinson@dgluk.com
Denholm Port Services Limited	01324 489760	forwarding.grg@denholm-portservices.com
Derry Bros Custom Clearance Ltd	028 8778 4949	customs@derrybros.com
Deugro (United Kingdom) Ltd	01489 578 222	mark.riley@duegro.com
DFDS Logistics Ltd	01469 562868	clearance.uk@dfds.com
DH Freight Ltd	01394 547421	lee.dawson@dhfreight.com
DHL Global Forwarding	0208 754 5000 or 0208 754 5094	DGF_UK_CDZ_Enquiries@dhl.com
Diamond Global Logistics	01753 3685336	sales@diamondglobal.co.uk
Diamond Worldwide ltd	020 8194 0786	info@dwwltd.co.uk
DinaCato International Freight Forwarding Services Ltd	01502 446 446	info@dinacato-logistics.com
DLA Piper UK LLP	0207 796 6465	tax-hublondon@dlapiper.com
DLH Worldwide Ltd	0161 848 8001	mail@dlhworldwide.com
DMS International Ltd	01293 772608	ops@dms-intl.com
Doncaster Chamber of Commerce	01302 640 124	export@doncaster-chamber.co.uk
Dornack International Ltd	01708 686960	simon.goddard@dornack.com
Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry	01202 714 814	Internationaltrade@dcci.co.uk
Doyle shipping Group (Belfast)	02890 755 881	shipping@dsg.uk
Drac Logistics Ltd	01324 614 065	charlotte.bowfield@draclogistics.co.uk
Dragon Logistics & Transport Ltd	+ 44 (0) 7706958092	ted@dragonlogistics.co.uk
Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce	01382 228 545	International@dundeeandanguschamber.co.uk
E W Taylor & Co. (Forwarding) Ltd	01795 435 350	info@ewtaylorgroup.com
Eagle Cargo Services	0208 591 8877	info@eaglecargoservices.com
East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce	01254 356 448	cds@chamberelancs.co.uk
East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire)	0333 320 0333	chambercustoms@emc-dnl.co.uk
Eclipse Worldwide Ltd	01604 759888	davidh@eclipseworldwide.co.uk
ECU Worldwide (UK) Ltd	02380 626 509	ukclearances@ecuworldwide.com
Eddie Maybank	0208 691 5067	eddie@customsclearance.uk.com
Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce	0131 221 2999	info@edinburghchamber.co.uk
EFM Management Ltd	44 1784 223960	info@efm.global
EFS Logistics Limited	01282 410044	Logistics@efs.global
Elm Consolidators Limited	01375 395 880	elm@elmco.co.uk
Embassy Freight Services (UK) Ltd	01268 820 461	seaimports@embassyfreight.co.uk
Embrace Global Logistics Ltd	0161 279 1606	dave@embracegloballogistics.com
EMS Cargo Ltd	0800 2461169	ems@ems-cargo.co.uk
Enterprise Liner Agencies Ltd	0208 591 8787	ELA@UK.com
EOS Warehousing Ltd	02892 680 066	Customs@eoswarehousing.com
Espace Europe Ltd	01543 418 700	TonyShally@espaceglobalfreight.com
ETL Logistics Limited	44 (0) 1932562169	info@etl-logistics.com
Euro Asia Maritime Agencies Ltd	02380 677555	Customs@euroasia-maritime.com
Eurogate Logistics	0203 954 3333	sales@eurogate.co.uk
Euronox Limited	+44(0) 208 434 7031	info@euronoxltd.co.uk
Europa Air & Sea	01784 264 001	airsea@europa-worldwide.com
Europa Shipping Services (Newcastle) Ltd	01289 330 747	john.bacon@europa-shipping.com
Eurosprint Freight Services	0121 785 0666	clay@eurosprint.co.uk
EuroTurk Freight Solutions Ltd	44 1480 470114	CLR@euroturk.co.uk
Evolution Forwarding	01642 440044	operations@evolutionforwarding.com
Excess Luggage Ltd	0845 270 7186	info@excessluggage.co.uk
Expeditors International UK Ltd	01784 264418	Harry.Rayner@expeditors.com
Exporter Services Ltd	01157 270018
Falsum Consulting Limited	0207 735 2455	sam@falsum.co.uk
Far Logistics Ltd	023 8020 1281	chris.barrington@farintl.com
Fastnet Forwarding Ltd	01582 463 814	dwhite@fastnetforwarding.co.uk
Fastrack Custom Declaration	44 0923218241129	sheikhtariq66@hotmail.com
FC Logistics Limited	01394 448190	david@fclogistics.co.uk
FCL Global Forwarding Ltd	0121 555 1040	info@fclgf.com
FCL World Logistics Ltd	01635 268 371	info@fclworld.com
FCX Worldwide Express	0162 472 1900	steve.kimber@fcx.im
Fellowship Freight Ltd	01473 794 949	info@fellowshipfreight.co.uk
Fenix Freight Limited	0121 222 5151	accounts@fenixfreight.com
Fenris Strategic Solutions Ltd	+44(0) 2890 941607	customs@fenrisltd.com
FH Bertling Logistics Aberdeen Limited	01224 661 810	operations.aberdeen@bertling.com
Fistral Impex Limited	01279 680345	fistral@fistral-impex.co.uk
Flexible Cargo Services Ltd	01206 638556	info@flexiblecargoservices.co.uk
Flexport International B.V.	0031 20 888 1888	eu.brokers@flexport.com
Fornax Logistics Limited	0207 096 0901	info@fornaxlogistics.com
Freight Agencies Forwarding Limited	01375 840400	paul@freight-agencies.com
Freight Group	01394 334888	freightgroupstaff@freightgroup.com
Freight Logistics Solutions	01633 288 400	operations@freightlogisticssolutions.co.uk
Freightair Ltd	0191 268 9862	ncloffice@freightair.co.uk
Freightlane Ltd	01304 831 668	scollins@freightlane.co.uk
Fresca Group Ltd T/A Fresh Clear	01892 835 577	imports@freshclear.com
Frontier Forwarding Services Ltd	0208 893 7722	info@frontierforwarding.co.uk
FSC Oceans Limited	01753 210040	Alan.hewitt@fscoceans.com
Future Forwarding Co Ltd	0844 879 4977	lisalarvin@ukffcl.com
G Heyn & Sons Ltd	028 90350000	imports@heyn.co.ukexports@heyn.co.uk
G.B. Agencies Ltd	01472 246 500	Tim.OMahoney@gbagroup.com
GAC Management Ltd	07967 500130	gary@gacml.co.uk
GAC Services (UK) Ltd	01642 637 500	Lee.Round@gac.com
Gaston Schul Customs Ltd	01469 573444	grimsby@gaston-schul.com
Gateship Limited t/a Gateway Shipping Co	01304 207003	info@gatewaydover.com
GAVA ILS UK LTD	+44(0)1784 420130	info@gavauk.com
GCL Logistics Ltd	020 8844 4016	Martyn.Satterthwaite@gcllog.com
GEFCO Forwarding UK Ltd	01784 279585	LHRImports@gefco.net
Gemini Freight Management Ltd	01322 374 854	sales@gemini-freight.com
Geodis FF United Kingdom Limited	0802 831 4234	overland@daviesturner.co.uk
George Baker (Shipping) Ltd	0139 469 5287	Toby.Spink@georgebakershipping.com
Gerlach Customs Services (UK) Limited	01304 218 761	Sales@uk.gerlachcs.com
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce	0141 204 2121	ettore.viscontini@glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
Global Container Services Ltd	01394 451 200	freight@globalcontainers.com
Global Corporate Logistics UK	44(0)75 7783 3627	globalcorporatelogistics.com
Global forwarding Ltd	0161 4367 041	manclearance@globalf.com
Global Freight Connections	+44 (0) 7985373101	GrahamSimmonds@gfc-group.co.uk
Global Intelligent Logistics (UK) Limited	01322 537 402	barry.jalalon@globalintel.co.uk
Globex Freight Management Ltd	01394 676162	andy@globexfm.co.uk
Globexaair LTD	0208 897 0490	tony.white@globexair.com
Gondrand UK	0208 526 8751	slatteryp@gondrand.co.uk
Gordian Knot Forwarding Ltd	0730 5400 213	logsitics@gordianknotforwarding.co.uk
GP Global Logistics Ltd	01633 843 152	customs@gp-logistics.co.uk
GR8 FR8 Limited	0161 610 6150	operations@gr8fr8.co.uk
Grace Global Forwarding Ltd	01473 517368	freight@graceglobalforwarding.co.uk
Grange Shipping Ltd	01394 605 200	info@grangeshipping.co.uk
H & M Freight Services Ltd	0208 8440088	sales@hmfreight.com
Hamilton Shipping Container Services Limited	02890 357000	containers@hamiltonshipping.com
Hampshire Chamber of Commerce	01329 242 420	ezcert@hampshirechamber.co.uk
Hansen and Mac Ltd	01403 274 485	info@hansenmac.com
Harbour Shipping Limited	01304 200 923	Sapplebee@harbourshipping.co.uk
Heavyweight Air Express Limited	01332 853 258	customs@haegroup.com
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics Limited	0130 424 8390	CustomsClearanceEnquiries@hellmann.com
Hemisphere Freight Services Limited	01473 550 945	customs.enquiry@hemisphere-freight.com
Henry Diaper & Co. Ltd	0151 545 5471	Ian.Walsh@diaper.co.uk
Herbert Watson Freight Services Ltd	01619 050 410	sales@herbertwatson.co.uk
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce	01905 673613	internationaltrade@hwchamber.co.uk
Heritage International Freight	0208 569 2050	london@hfreight.com
HICS Worldwide	01753 790 390	worldwide@hics.co.uk
Hillebrand Ltd	01304 208206	gbd-clearance@jfhillebrand.com
Hollyport Logistics Ltd	01753 680 323	jerry.holmes@hollyportlogistics.co.uk
Horizon International Cargo Ltd	01753 688 676	Dale.Gilbart@hicargo.com
HPA LTD	01482 333377	Info@hpal.co.uk
I C Shipping Limited	0121 502 0095	ian@icshipping.com
Ideal International Ltd	01708 526941	astewart@ideal-forwarding.co.uk
IML Agencies Ltd	01394 674989	shaun@imlagencies.co.uk
Immediate Transportation Co Ltd	01753 653777	imports@itcoltd.com
Immediate Transportation Co Ltd	01394 674421	felixstowe@itcoltd.com
Immingham Transport Ltd	07710 703 976	david.millard@ntex.com
In Time Worldwide Express Limited	0345 258 2330	logistics@itwx.net
Independent Freight Solutions Ltd	02476 343 037	customs@independent-freight.com
Interfreight (UK) Ltd	01394 676 644	dturner@interfreightuk.com
International Forwarding Ltd	01675 434 690	sales@internationalforwarding.co.uk
International Vehicle Shipping Services	0203 787 4201	info@ivssuk.com
Interspan Freight Solutions Ltd	0161 848 0070	daniel@interspanfright.com
Inter-ways Ltd	01302 802240	ian@interways.co.uk
Inverness Chamber of Commerce	01463 718131	international@inverness-chamber.co.uk
Invictus Global Logistics Limited	01634 540 770	louise.robinson@invictusgloballogistics.com
Isca Forwarding Ltd	01392 369923	Jackie@isca-forwarding.co.uk
J C Shipping Services Ltd	02380 682016	john@jcshipping.co.uk
JAG-UFS Ltd	0208 818 7746	mike.davies@jagufs.com
Jalsa (UK) Ltd	020 8751 6171	pets@jalsauk.com
Jas Forwarding (UK) Limited	01224 766 770	neil.howarth@jas.com
Jeavons Eurotir Ltd	0121 201 0061	Sales@jeavonseurotir.co.uk
JEM Freight Services (UK) Ltd	0175 368 4696	jemops@jemfreight.com
JEM Logistics Ltd	0161 713 3109	david@jemlogistics.co.uk
JENKAR SHIPPING LTD	0845 260 50 50	martync@jenkar.com
Jenkinson Logistics	44 2890 783041	Iain.McCafferty@jenkinson.ie
JODA Freight	01535 634590	customs@jodafreight.com
John Good Shipping Limited	0161 834 4899	mreid@johngood.co.uk
John Pipe International	+44 2380 360100	mal.young@johnpipe.co.uk
John Sutcliffe & Son (Grimsby) Ltd	01469 359101	agency@jsutcliffe.co.uk
Jordon Freight Ltd	01394 286 644	Roddy.Forster@jordonfreight.com
JPAir International	44 (0) 1753 683 438	jpair@international.com
JS Forwarding	01394 274747	info@jsforwarding.co.uk
JSA Global	01394 678678	bkerr@jsaglobal.com
K&L Freight Ltd	01606 272 880	stephen@klfreight.com
Kalantha	07399 308 201	contact@kalantha.com
KC Group Shipping Ltd	0141 420 1700	imports@kcshipping.co.uk
KCI Logistics	01268 646 260	stephen.knight@kcilogistics.co.uk
Kedan Logistics Ltd	0345 094 5858	info@kedan.co.uk
Ken Hill Freight Services Ltd	01530 413300	chris@kenhillfreight.co.uk
Kenny Fisher Shipping Limited	01704 543723	bill@kennyfishershipping.co.uk
Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce	01233 503 838	viv@kentinvictachamber.co.uk
Kerry Logistics (UK) Ltd	0161 873 1457	stacey.byrne@kerrylogistics.com
Kestrel Liner Agencies	01279 729 415	preeves@kestrel.com
Kettlewell	01405 762262	agency@kettlewell.com
Key Air & Sea Ltd	0208 756 0500	jason@keyair.co.uk
Key Cargo International	0161 998 0000	colin@keycargo.net
KGH Customs Services	0161 768 6500	sales.uk@kghcustoms.com
Killick Martin & Company Limited	01268 209 395	sales@killickmartin.com or paul.gallagher@killickmartin.com
Kingscote Rojay Limited	01429 804040	Janice.best@kr-l.com
Kingstown Shipping Limited	01482 374116	james.hadley@kingstownshipping.co.uk
KLG Europe Bradford Limited	44 0 7920 152901	j.wood@bradford.klgeurope.com
KranLee Logistics Limited	01246 281234	hello@kranlee.com
KRL		Robert.macpherson@kr-l.com
Kuehne + Nagel	01322 283 400	uk.customers-brexit@kuehne-nagel.com
L B Freight Limited	01422 351217	sales@lbfreight.co.uk
Laser Transport International Ltd	01303 260471	sales@laserint.co.uk
LCL International	01304 213 658	transport@lclinternational.com
Leman International Transport	01924 921 262	Andrew.brogan@leman.com
LF Logistics UK Limited	0161 -786 7571	Dionnescroop@lflogistics.com
LHR Global Logistics	01753 689 905	import@lhrglobal.com
Ligentia UK Ltd	0113 344 4000	sales@ligentia.com
Linc Freight Management LTD	01376 564962	Daniel@lincgroup.co.uk
Lincoln Maritime Limited	+44 (0) 2081503671	sales@lincolnmaritime.co.uk
Locker Freight Ltd	0151 480 8922	Steve.hill@locker-freight.co.uk
Logfret UK Ltd	0208 759 5523	lhr@logfret.co.uk
Logwin Air + Ocean Uk Limited	44 (0)161 266 2103	antony.atack@logwin-logistics.com
Lombard Shipping plc	01473 243 888	enquiries@lombardshipping.co.uk
London Chamber of Commerce & Industry	020 7203 1846	edocuments@londonchamber.co.uk
Lovefreight ltd	01268 419019	vicky@lovefreight.co
Lucas Freight Ltd	01481 724480	mail@lucasfreight.com
LV Shipping & Transport	44 0 1642440744	forwarding.middlesbrough@lvshipping.com
M&B (Felixstowe) Ltd	01304 825884	info@mbfxt.com
M&W Airfreight Ltd	01619 050 469	sales@mwairfreight.co.uk
M&W Freight Ltd	01619 050 400	sales@mwfreight.co.uk
M.A. Freight Services Limited	01553 828144	mgbishop@mafreight.co.uk
Maersk	01394 695 653 or 01394 695 662	Roxsan.Bennett@Maersk.com
Maina Freight Forwarders PLC	44 0 2088431977	Info@Maina.com
Maina Imports Ltd	44 0 2088431977	Sales@Maina.com
Maltacourt Limited	08454 989 555	enquiries.uk@maltacourt.com
Mannson Freight Services Limited	012682 70001	KPerkins@mannson.com
MANOR SHIPPING SERVICES LIMITED	01708 522345	manoruk@manorshipping.co.uk
Mapcargo International Ltd	01753 255 255	sales@mapcargo.co.uk
Marexport UK Ltd	01473 271485	brian@marexport.co.uk
Maritime Cargo Services	01449 616 100	sales@maritimecargo.com
Martintrux Group Ltd	01304 213 122	Clearance@martintrux.co.uk
Martyn Fiddler Customs Services Limited	01279 810 020	MFAL@martynfiddler.aero
Maurice Ward & Co (UK) Ltd	01784 464319	unitedkingdom@mauriceward.com
Maxi Haulage Ltd	01925 605 790	mattjackson@maxihaulage.co.uk
McAuley Freight Ltd	028 90 298181	hugh@mcauleyfreight.co.uk
Meachers Global Logistics Ltd	02380 741515	sales@meachersglobal.com
Mersey Forwarding Ltd / Liverpool Port Logistics Ltd	0151 317 8994	tony@merseyforwarding.com
Metro Shipping Limited	0121 717 2345	enquiries@metroshipping.co.uk
MSK Logistics Ltd	01293 400540	Sales@MSKLOGISTICS.COM
Nagel Langdons Limited	01304 872 617	customs@nagel-langdons.co.uk
Name	Phone number	Email address
NDF Worldwide	01772 434300	operations@ndfworldwide.com
NEBA Freight Limited	020 8642 9190	imports@nebafreight.com
Neill & Brown Limited	01482 644287	chris.watson@neillbrown.com
Nelson Freight Ltd	0151 645 5783	norman.nelson@talk21.com
Nemcast International Ltd	01753 682111	imports@nemcast.com
Neon Freight Ltd	01477 668003 or 07788 667 776	ian.mallon@neonfreight.co.uk
Neptune Shipping Agency Ltd	01579 386 000	sales@nsa.com
Neptune Shipping Agency Ltd	01579 386 000	sales@nsa.com
NEXUS Customs Ltd	01724 410430	paul.robertson@nexuscustoms.com
NF Global Logistics Ltd	0113 2059525	sales@nfglobal.co.uk
Nippon Express (UK) Ltd	+44 (0) 20 8737 4271	mohammed.patel@neeur.com
Nisko UK	01945 860 354	simon@niskouk.com
NISSIN (U.K.) Ltd	44 01895 439555	J.Rodrigues@nissinuk.com
NMC Global Logistics Limited	+44 1394 270400	neil@nmclogistics.com
NNR Global Logistics UK Ltd	0208 893 2883	nnrlhr@nnruk.com
Noatum Logistics UK Ltd	44 (0) 1784 480101	phil.sawdon@noatumlogistics.com
Norfolk Chamber of Commerce	01603 625 977	export@norfolkchamber.co.uk
Norman Global Logistics Ltd	01394 695 435	Martin.Rue@norman.co.uk
Ocean International FS Ltd	01489 578 222	peter@oceaninternational.com
Oceanblue Logistics Ltd	01472 878514	customs@oceanbluelogistics.co.uk
Oceanside Logistics Ltd	02380 860 585	info@oceansidelogistics.com
Oceanwide Freight Services Limited	0044 (0) 1708 551345	ben@oceanwidefreight.co.uk
Octain Ltd	01245 449080	customs.docs@octain.com
OIA Global Ltd	0207 265 3100	rachel.morley@oiaglobal.com
OIA Global Ltd	0207 265 3100	rachel.morley@oiaglobal.com
Omni Customs Products	07340 108 652	ben@omnicustomsproducts.com
OMNI Freight Services Ltd	01394 695089	andy@omniservices.co.uk
One World Express Inc Ltd	0208 860 6060	info@oneworldexpress.com
One World Logistics UK Limited	01753 683334	naresh@owfll.com
OOCL Logistcs (Europe) Ltd	01473 654 411	olopluslev@oocllogistics.com
Orbis International Ltd	+44 (0)1636 701358	airfreight@orbis-int.com
Orbit Cargo Services Ltd	020 85743771	www.orbitcargoservices.com
Orbital Freight Ltd	01603 300222	tony@orbitalfreight.co.uk
Osborn Customs Services Ltd	01634 731632	imports@osborncustoms.com
P&O Ferrymasters Ltd	01473 786200	chris.chapman@pofm.com
PDQ Specialist Courier Services	0800 046 2011	info@pdqspecialistcouriers.com
Pantos Logistics UK Ltd	01753 610 410	Kimberly.kim@pantos.com
ParcelWorks Ltd	0797 393 1627	jkelley@parcelworks.com
Parkside Warehousing & Transport Co Ltd	01473-690161	chris.hazelwood@btconnect.com
PDP Freight Services Ltd	44  (0) 1753 764030	shaun@pdpgroup.com
Pentagon Freight Services Plc	01224 405 600	Aberdeen@pentagonfreight.com
Pentagon Transport NCL	0191 2590195	road.uk@pentagonfreight.com
Perishable Movements Ltd	0208 893 2666
Peter and Paul Enterprises Ltd	07984 647 087	p.okafor@ymail.com
Petrasco Services Ltd	01224 337 733	customs@petrasco.co.uk
PFE Express Ltd	01376 533 000	info@pfe-express.co.uk
Pinnacle International Freight Ltd	0845 6216 111	enquiry@pif.co.uk
Pioneer International Import Export Limited	+44(0)20 8756 0222	info@pioneerinternational.co.uk
PJ Global Logistics Limited	01304 806 550	documents@pjgloballogistics.co.uk
PJ Shipping Ltd	01304 825 939	clearance@pjshipping.com
PMG Worldwide Ltd	01753 687898	alan@pmgw.co.uk
Premier Freight Services	01268270789	info@premierfreight.uk.com
Prime Express Cargo & Couriers Ltd	44 20 8573 4531	sony@primexgouk.com
Prisma Logistics (UK)Limited	44(0)208 933 6655	Info@prismalogistics.co.uk
Product Logistics	0208 564 9234	freightenq@productlogistics.co.uk
Quality Freight Services Ltd	0161 820 6830	duncan@qualityfreight.co.uk
Quest Freight Ltd	020 8890 0330	john@questfreight.co.uk
Radius Logistics UK Ltd	+44 (0) 2081332586	cus.lon@radiuslog.co.uk
Radius Warehouse and Logistic Services	0117 9820099	info@radiuslogistics.co.uk
Raycole Global Logistics Ltd	01375 489449	info@raycolegloballogistics.com
RBF Cargocare Limited	01394 671 775	jon.beech@rbf-cargocare.com
RBF Cargocare Limited (Cannock)	01543 728 437	steve.clifford@rbf-cargocare.com
RBF Cargocare Limited (Felixstowe)	01394 671 775	andy.tomlinson@rbf-cargocare.com
RBF Cargocare Limited (London Gateway)	01375 678 343	andy.tomlinson@rbf-cargocare.com
Real-Time 365 Limited	01245 860 365	Terry@Real-Time365.com
Reed Forwarding Ltd	0128 475 6225	emma@reedforwarding.co.uk
Regency International (G.B.) Ltd	01708 620 200	bryan@regencyintlgb.com
Regency Shipping Ltd	01753 287 800	info@rsllhr.co.uk
Regional Express Limited	44 (0) 1794 516 515	charlie@regionalexpress.co.uk
Reliable Shipping (UK) Ltd	01394 671 921	greg@reliableshipping.co.uk
Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce	0141 847 5464	info@renfrewshirechamber.com
Republic Cargo Systems Limited	0121 712 8930	UK@rcslogistics.com
Rhenus Logistics	0161 886 4297	Chris.mcguinness@uk.rhenus.com
Robert Kukla Spedition UK Ltd	01303 847203	m.jacobs@kukla-spedition.com
ROSELINE LOGISTICS LIMITED (UK)	44 782 5300 146	tony.aherne@roselinelogistics.com
S.H. Pratt Group Ltd	01582 436 524	LizYork@shprattgroup.com
SAFCO Services Ltd	01473 313041	philip@safcoservices.com
Samphire Cargo Ltd	01304 207 120	chris.grimes@samphirecargo.co.uk
Samskip Ltd	01472 289377	immingham@samskip.com
Sandrair International Limited	01932 787 277	info@sandrair.com
Savino Del Bene	0208 844 8550	jack.pells@savinodelbene.com
Schallenberg International Limited	01394 675 339	Info@Schallenberg.com
Sea Avia Forwarding Ltd	0238 033 4403	enquiries@seaavia.co.uk
Seabourne Forwarding Limited	44 01332 814 477	Customs@seabourme-group.com
Seabrook Export Services Ltd	0203 288 2980	Wyatt@seabrookexports.com
Sea-Cargo UK	01469 577119	immingham@sea-cargo.no
Seafair (UK) Limited	+44 (0)1268 530634	uk.sales@seafairgroup.com
Seafast Logistics Ltd	01394 694 800	enquires@seafast.com
Seagull Freight Services Ltd	02085 944 161	ibrahim@seagull-freight.com
Seairo Shipping Ltd	0151 482 5528	roy@seairoshipping.com
Seaport Freight Services Ltd	01394 676 691	enquiries@seaportfreight.co.uk
Seaspace International Forwarders Ltd	01293 554620	info@seaspace-ain’t.com
Senator International	0161 493 3200	andrew.whitehouse@man.senator-international.com
Senator International Freight Forwarding Limited	0161 493 3200	andrew.whitehouse@man.senator-international.com
Sevenstar Yacht Transport UK	44 2380821031	mike@sevenstar-uk.com
SGS United Kingdom Limited	01749 345 007	sales.i2i@sgs.com
Sheffield Chamber of Commerce	0114 201 8888	customs@scci.org.uk
Ship Cars Ltd	01495 320 540	info@shipcars.co.uk
Shipright Ltd	0796 100 9336	info@shiprightltd.co.uk
Shropshire Chamber of Commerce	01952 208 200	enquiries@shropshire-chamber.co.uk
Shuttle Bridge Logistics Ltd	0203 1375 588	info@shuttlebridge.co.uk
Simarco International Ltd	01376 501110	brexit@simarco.com
SKI Freight International Limited	0161 217 1224	imran@skifreight.com
SkyPort International Logistics Ltd	0161 266 1128	matthew@skyportintlog.com
SLR International Ltd	01255 870099	customs@slrtrans.co.uk
Sound Moves UK Ltd	01784 424 471	Martin.corr@soundmoves.co.uk
South American Agency Ltd. T/A SAA Logistics	0208 2492328	admin@saalogistics.co.uk
Sovereign Cargo Ltd	01323 735300	info@sovcargo.co.uk
Spectrum Forwarding Ltd	0208 440 7710	info@spectrumforwarding.co.uk
Speedlink International Logistics	028 90691332	belfast@speedlink.ie
Spica Logistics Ltd	07493 456 482	tolga@spicalogistics.co.uk
Spray Shipping Ltd	01394 676 555	info@sprayshipping.co.uk
Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce	01782 202 222	wendy.hall@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
StartUp Overseas	44 (0)117 9073520	admin@startupoverseas.co.uk
Steder Group UK	0141 648 1768	steven.kelly@stedergroup.com
Stone Logistics Ltd	0161 905 0421	chris@stonelogistics.co.uk
Straight Freight Ltd	44 (0) 1784 252955	info@straight-freight.co.uk
Sumitomo Warehouse (Europe)	44 (0) 207 265 1414	info@swluk.com
Sunbury Warehousing & Logistics Limited	+44 (0) 1932 450 568	sales@sunburylogistics.co.uk
Superior Freight Services (UK) Ltd	01753 686863	Superior@supuk.com
supreme freight	44 (0)23 8072 7913	ashley@supremefreight.com
Surrey Chamber of Commerce	01483 735 540	export@surrey-chambers.co.uk
Sussex Chambers of Commerce	01444 259 259	info@sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk
T E Shipping Ltd	01708 388100	tebejer@teshipping.com
t.ward shipping	0131 554 1231	shipping@tward.co.uk
T/A Customs Clearance UK	Mobile: 079991 90688
TCB Group Ltd	028 95 608 444	darren@tcbfreight.com
Team Global Limited	01753 686393	phil@teamdeliver.com
Telenet Global Logistics Ltd	01753 768100	ajordan@telenetlogistics.com
TFS Cargo Services Ltd	0208 890 1311	dak@tfs-cargo.co.uk
TGF Unique Ltd	0208 818 7811	info@tgfunique.com
TGT Customs Consulting	440 7774278584	info@tgtconsulting.co.uk
Thames Valley Chamber Of Commerce Group	01753 870560	chambercustoms@tvchamber.co.uk
The Jamar Group	01392 410 984	customs@jamargroup.co.uk
Thermotraffic UK Limited	020 8596 5406	n.stokes@thermotraffic.com
Thos E Kettlewell & Son Ltd	01405 762262	agency@kettlewell.com
Toga Freight Services Ltd (Ireland)	+353 1 630 4200	Brexit@TogaFreight.com
Toll Global Forwarding Group UK Limited	0208 893 2337	Inde.atwal@tollgroup.com
TPS Global Logistics Ltd	01622 237 979	info@tps-global.com
TQ Express	0161 437 0248	Imports@tqexpress.com
TR Logistics Group	02890 373 700	info@tr-logistics.com
Trafertir International Transport Ltd	01268 247 004	customs@trafertir.com
TrailerTrans (Europe) Limited	01469 577 000	sales@trailertrans.co.uk
Trans Global Freight Management Ltd	01932 212821	einfo@trans-global.com
Transland Group	0044 1543 445656	kjones@translandgroup.co.uk
Transland International UK Ltd	01543 445656	kjones@translandgroup.co.uk
Tudor Freight	0208 831 4234	adam@tudorfreight.com
Turquoise Logistics Ltd	012277 725480	info@turquoiselogistics.co.uk
Tuscor Lloyds Ltd	0161 868 6000	hello@tuscorlloyds.com
U Freight UK Ltd	01932 788116	lonop@ufreight.com
UK Customs Solutions LTD	01394 334 880	enquiries@ukcustomssolutions.co.uk
UK Import Services Limited	0345 309 6360	enquiries@ukimportservices.com
UK Postings Worldwide	01844 398 880	Lee.Bucktrout@ukpworldwide.com
Uneek Forwarding Ltd	44 208 984 0425	info@uneekforwarding.co.uk
Uniexpress Ltd	01274 741800	michael@uniexpress.co.uk
Unisystems Freight (UK) Ltd	01376 518 700	russell@ufl.uk.com
Universal Delivery Solutions Ltd	0208 848 3308	info@udsww.com
Universe Logistics	0203 004 9397	info@unvs.co.uk
Unsworth	0208 988 8055	ag@unsworth.uk
Vantec World Transport (NL) BV	0161 498 6277	Nick-johnson.pr@vantec-gl.com
Velta International Ltd	01376 505 160	info@velta.co.uk
Viamaster International Ltd	0113 259 7031	customs@viamaster-intl.com
Viking Shipping Services Ltd	01757 606 695	gpickering@vikingshipping.co.uk
Vikstar Limited	+44 (0) 20 85379206	vikesh@vikstar.co.uk
Viva Xpress Logistics (UK) Ltd	+ 44 (0)1753 210700	info@VXLNET.co.uk
W E Dover Ltd	01304 249 855	sales@wedover.co.uk
W. Saunders (Shipping & Forwarding) Ltd	01394 672244	info@wsaunders.co.uk
Wainwright Bros & co Ltd	02380 223671	E-mail-forwarding@wainwrightgroup.com
Wallis Shipping Services Ltd	01206 751133	info@wssl.co.uk
Warrant Group Limited	0151 955 0630	customs@warrant-group.com
WBC Export Packaging Limited	01773 307236	andy.butterfield@wbcltd.com
Widem UK Limited	01788 891015	rugr@widem.eu
Wilder Logistics (Felixstowe) Ltd	01473 655 735	fxt@wilderlogistics.com
Wilder Logistics Ltd	01753 681 085	mail@wilderlogistics.com
Wine and Spirits Trade Association	0207 089 3877	info@wsta.co.uk
Wineflow Clearance Ltd	01304 273 632	clearance@wineflow.com
Wirral Chamber of Commerce	0151 650 6940	export@wirralchamber.co.uk
WM International Ltd	0121 327 1504	michal.gierat@wmgroupuk.co.uk
Woodland Global	+44 1245 619740	hayley.williams@woodlandgroup.com
Woodland Global Ltd	01245 619 900	customs@woodlandglobal.com
Woodside Global	02893 344848	imports@woodsides.com
World Cargo Logistics Limited	0161 302 8643	kevin@worldcargologistics.co.uk
World Cargo Logistics LTD	07931 526652	manchester@worldcargologistics.co.uk
World Freight Consultants Ltd	01375 851999	info@wfc-ltd.co.uk
World Transport Agency Ltd	01394 673247	felixstowesales@wtagroup.com
World Transport Agency Ltd	07771 796 479	dean.levey@wtagroup.com
Worldwide Energy Logistics Limited	0208 8670330	wellsales@well.uk.com
Worldwide Logistics Group	020 39002474	aj@wwllmail.com
WS Logistics Ltd	01394 272 266	info@wslogistics.com
WTC Logistics UK Limited	01268 582120	operations@wtclogistics.co.uk
X One Wholesale Ltd	01753 682426	lhr@xonewholesale.co.uk
XPand Logistics Ltd	01784 431 081	salesteam@xpandlogistics.co.uk
XPO Global Forwarding UK Ltd	01753 686 883	lhrimports@xpo.com
YFT Logistics Ltd	02380 472696	yvonne@yftlogistics.co.uk
Yorkshire Shipping Ltd	01482 333600	customs@yorkshireshipping.co.uk
Your Logistics Company Ltd	0203 058 4100	operations@yourlogisticscompany.co.uk
Zenith International Freight Ltd	01274 727888	sales@zen-intl.co.uk
Ziegler UK Ltd	01753 287550	ukairfreight@zieglergroup.com
ZigZag Global Ltd (Returns)	0203 286 8223	al@zigzag.global
Zygo Limited	01394 671 444	gov.uk@zygo.eu

What is a freight forwarder?

If you’re already doing business abroad, you’ve likely heard of freight forwarders before. They promise to take much of the stress out of international shipping – and deal with all aspects of the transportation and delivery of your goods. In most cases they’ll also deal with customs clearance. But do you really need to use a freight forwarder for your shipment? Or is it an unnecessary waste of cash?

A freight forwarder is an individual – or, more likely, a company – which arranges for goods to be transported from one place to another.

While this might sound straightforward enough, there is in fact a whole lot which goes on behind the scenes to make sure that product delivery you’re expecting makes it safely from your supplier to your office. A good freight forwarder, however, will make the process look seamless, efficient and simple.

>See also: Freight forwarder: Everything you need to know

What does a freight forwarder do?

A freight forwarder will take control of getting your shipment from its origin to your store, home or office. That can involve any or all of the following steps:

• Arranging transport from the origin – such as your supplier’s factory or warehouse – to the port or airport for shipment
• Preparing documents, licenses and all relevant paperwork for export at the point of origin
• Negotiating, booking and loading cargo for sea or air freight
• Setting up insurance and tracking delivery as needed
• Preparing documents, licenses and all relevant paperwork for UK customs authorities
• Arranging haulage and delivery to your agreed location in the UK

Often, it’s not the freight forwarder themselves carrying out many of the steps listed above. They’ll often subcontract things like local haulage to a partner based in your supplier location, for example. But what makes a freight forwarder helpful – and often crucial – is that they have the contacts across the globe to find the right person needed to get the job done, whether you’re importing from Sao Paulo or Shanghai.

Having a skilled freight forwarder will cost you in upfront fees – but it should make the import process run smoothly and reduce the risk of any unforeseen costs or nasty surprises.

What are the advantages of using a freight forwarder?

• You’ll only need to deal with one person to arrange your shipment, rather than several different haulage and freight companies
• Many freight forwarders are experts in import/export paperwork, and can help you navigate the complex processes involved
• With their local connections, freight forwarders can find service providers all over the globe to complete your shipment
• Freight forwarders can negotiate on shipping, haulage and warehousing costs on your behalf
• Using a freight forwarder offers peace of mind – if something goes wrong, or you need to submit an insurance claim, they should be able to help out

Where can I find a freight forwarder?

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has a location-based search engine for its freight forwarder members and their specialisations.

What is a fast parcel operator?

Fast parcel operators can help you move documents, parcels, and freight across the world within a specific time frame. They can even handle customs clearance for you, provided you give them written instructions. The instructions must clarify whether these agents are acting for you directly or indirectly.

Where can I find a fast parcel operator?

The Government has published a list of authorised fast parcel operators ahead of Brexit, and that list is continually updated

Where to find a fast parcel operator

Further reading

How to prepare your small business for a no-deal Brexit

The post How will Brexit affect my imports and exports? Where to find customs help appeared first on Small Business UK.

If you think your business could benefit consumers outside your home country, perhaps it’s time to expand your horizons. Many successful companies reach a point where they’ve earned a sizeable share of their domestic market, which makes going global their only logical next step.

Once you’ve decided to venture abroad, you will need to conduct extensive research to determine which locations to target. This will depend on factors like what goods or services your company offers and the market it currently serves. However, there are some countries which are arguably riper for investment than others, particularly those with a strong economy, availability of talent and low start-up costs, all of which serve as good indications of a nation’s suitability. Here are three nations to think about expanding into.

1. France

The first place you should consider is conveniently close to home. One of the top five countries to invest in and the world’s sixth-largest economy, France’s economic stature alone makes it well worth investigating. In their guide on doing business in France, international language experts London Translations cite France’s world-leading electronics, manufacturing and finance sectors as a great reason for British businesses to reach out.

Home to roughly 67m citizens and offering access to the EU’s 500 million-strong single market, you shouldn’t struggle to find a customer base for your business in France either. What’s more, you can take advantage of swathes of French talent as 33.5pc of those aged 25-64 hold a degree. France’s workforce is also incredibly productive, recording an impressive £83.58 GDP per hour in 2018.

Government policy has also been favourable towards entrepreneurs in recent years, particularly under current president Emmanuel Macron, who has vowed to make France ‘the start-up nation’. This pledge has been borne out through business initiatives like the French Tech Visa, a fast-track procedure quickly providing foreign tech talent with multi-year residence permits, and the PACTE law, which has simplified business set-up procedures, and improved access to corporate financing.

2. Singapore

To bring your business into the potentially lucrative Southeast Asian market, look no further than Singapore. Consistently ranked as one of the world’s easiest places to do business, the island-city state is highly popular with foreign investors, not least because it only takes 1.5 days and two procedures to launch a business there. Furthermore, Singapore offers one of the world’s lowest corporate tax rates –peaking at just 17pc – and there is significant help available for start-ups. For example, the government’s Startup SG initiative guides businesses in attracting and retaining talent, and helps them secure funding.

The country also boasts a strong economy, ranking in a 2019 survey as the world’s most competitive thanks to its incredible infrastructure, market efficiency and skilled workforce. In fact, it was the only Asian nation to make the top 10 most competitive countries for talent, according to rankings by Swiss business school, IMD. Singapore scored well for quality of education, its high number of science graduates and the ability of workers to solve real-world problems. Beyond its talented workforce, Singapore is also in the heart of Southeast Asia, close to massive markets like India, while sectors like financial technology, health and fitness and the medical industry are all growing significantly.

3. India

With the world’s second-fastest-growing economy behind China and the fifth-largest overall, India should definitely be on your shortlist for business expansion. In fact, according to a study by CEO World Magazine, the country was one the world’s top ten countries to invest in during 2019, especially in sectors like manufacturing, services and food processing. And with over 17pc of the world’s population living in India, your business can sell to a massive market, and has access to plenty of talented potential employees.

India is known for being extremely business-friendly, with a range of schemes aimed at helping its companies. These include a number of tax benefits, like cutting the corporate tax rate from 30pc to 22pc in late 2019, while non-venture capital funding is also eligible for tax exemption.

For smaller businesses, India is home to over 300 incubators and accelerators, while recent reforms have made it easier than ever to launch a business. For example, in 2018 the Indian government abolished filing fees for setting up a company electronically, and amalgamated multiple application forms into one.

Written by London Translations, a professional translation and interpretation agency working across all industries, translating in over 140 languages.

Read more

Planning for overseas expansion: How to maintain a smooth transition

The post Doing business abroad: The top 3 countries for international expansion appeared first on Small Business UK.

Estonia has the highest concentration of entrepreneurs in Europe, according to research.

Nearly one in five adults (19.4 per cent) see themselves as either a would-be entrepreneur or owner/manager of a new business in the Baltic state.

Montenegro (14.9 per cent) and Turkey (14.2 per cent) were in second and third place when it comes to the concentration of start-ups, according to tech supplier RS Components.

>See also: What Estonia’s youngest inventor can teach us about entrepreneurship

The UK by comparison ranked in 17^th place in Europe with 8.2 per cent of the country being entrepreneurs. In fact, Britain lags behind Kazakhstan and Romania when it comes to entrepreneurial activity.

Top 20 countries with most aspiring entrepreneurs and new business owners

What can the UK learn from Estonia?

Estonia ranks #1 in ease of its tax system

The International Tax Competitiveness Index measures how easy or not it is to run a business in different countries of the OECD, according to several metrics. Estonia has maintained pole position for several years compared with 25th-ranked Britain.

Digital-first administration

Estonia is recognised as the world leader for digital e-government and that has extended to registering a business remotely in Estonia without having set foot inside the country – which is helpful in an age of digital nomads. You can register your business remotely through the e-Residency programme. However, setting up a business in Estonia is best suited for purely digital businesses, such as Amazon dropshipping intermediaries, which act as a middleman between customers and manufacturers. Estonia is not the place to register a business if you manufacture or physically handle goods yourself.

Low tax rate for company dividends

The tax rate for company dividends drops to just 14 per cent providing the company has been issuing dividends for at least one year. And start-ups do not pay any tax until they have issued their first dividends. (By comparison, UK higher-rate taxpayers pay 32.5 per cent on dividends.)

Further reading

Millennials: which is the best city for your start-up?

The post What the UK can learn from Estonia as the destination to start a business appeared first on Small Business UK.

If there was one attitude that has been fundamental to the economic success of the city of Dubai then it surely is a deep respect for the value of competition.

It’s a word that Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and ruler of Dubai, is very fond of, believing that it drives people to become stronger and to achieve more.

“Compete with yourself and others,” he advises in My Story: 50 Memories from Fifty Years of Service, his long-awaited memoirs published to coincide with five decades at the heart of power in the Middle East. “Compete with your goals to achieve more ambitious ones,” he adds. “Compete with your past to build a better future.”

Dubai is a paragon for what can be achieved by enshrining competition at the heart of policy. In the space of just two generations it has transformed into a global economic powerhouse thanks to a forward-thinking combination of inspired resource exploitation, free trade and vision.

It was this firm conviction that drove the Sheikh to transform Dubai from a small, bustling trading port into a multi-billion dollar city that now welcomes 16 million global visitors. This he has achieved in just five decades.

In one of the many revealing anecdotes—which are spread across 50 themed chapters, one for each year of service—Sheikh Mohammed recalls the moment when he first became aware that Dubai had the potential to become a global landmark and economic hub. He was only a child on his first visit to Britain, standing “bewildered” at Heathrow Airport, watching the commotion and dreaming Dubai might one day have its own airport. From that instant, he firmly believed that the future lay in making the city a global destination.

It became his mission and has remained his focus ever since, despite vehement opposition in those early years. His vision was, for instance, roundly derided at a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council in the early 1980s. ‘Who would possibly visit Dubai?’, they scoffed.

“I knew that we were sitting on tourist gold: sun, sea and white sands,” Sheikh Mohammed told the naysayers. “Build it and they will come”. He later embarked on creating state-of-the-art visitor and entertainment facilities, huge malls and vast infrastructure projects.

His instincts reaped dividends. Dubai International Airport is now the world’s busiest; a crown it took from Heathrow in 2014.

Sheikh Mohammed identifies 1979 as the pivotal year for Dubai’s economic explosion, with the launch of three huge projects – Jebel Ali Port, a vast aluminium smelting operation, and the Dubai World Trade Centre. Today, these draw more than three million business people annually to over 500 events.

But the seeds of Dubai’s growth into a global city go back to Sheikh Mohammed’s grandfather, Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum.

Although Dubai’s roots as an Emirate date back to the early 19^th -Century, Sheikh Saeed, who came to power in Dubai in 1912, adopted a pioneering free-trade policy, developing its eponymous capital as a significant commercial hub and ensuring “the heart of a modern city began to beat” (pearls were the largest trade sector in the region until the market for them collapsed in the 1930s).

Sheikh Mohammed’s father, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who ruled the Emirate of Dubai from 1958 until his death in 1990, continued the economic transformation of Dubai, and also of the UAE as its Vice-President and Prime Minister.

It is clear from My Story just how much his son learned from his father while young, as exemplified in this touching passage: “Every day I watched him in action taught me a new lesson, bringing me fresh ideas, exciting projects and eventually greater understanding, perhaps even a little wisdom.”

Perhaps most importantly, he credits Sheikh Rashid with teaching him a guiding principal that has shaped both Dubai and the UAE’s economic direction at the most fundamental level.

“I asked him who are the real leaders are in this world,” he writes. “He replied that today’s real leaders are not the same as yesterday’s. Today’s leaders are the silent giant who possess the money, not the politicians who make the noise. I see it borne out in truth every day in our modern world. Economics always drives politics, and not just in Western countries and major democracies.”

The adoption of this philosophy can account for why Dubai, and the UAE, are focused squarely on development projects and the economy, and why, as Sheikh Mohammed adds proudly, “Dubai has become a global economic icon” and “many aspire to move to the UAE so they can achieve their dreams and realise their ambitions”.

The young nation’s openness, tolerance, prosperity and adoption of a private sector mindset in government is a model that Sheikh Mohammed has always hoped will be adopted across the Arab world.

It is, therefore, appropriate that the final chapter of his enlightening autobiography sets out what he considers to be the principles of sound government, under the heading ‘10 Rules for Leadership”. It is likewise apt that this concluding chapter revisits the theme of competition. Alongside such maxims as serving the people and focusing on the work rather than title, he notes: “Competition is a way of life in government, without it, motivation will subside, enthusiasm will diminish, and the flames of determination will die out.

“My goal,” he continues, “is always to be in first place, and I always strive for this – even when I’m not aware I’m doing so.”

My Story: 50 Memories from Fifty Years of Service (Explorer Group Ltd) by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is out now on Amazon UK, priced £7.99 in paperback and £6.73 as a Kindle eBook.

The post Book review: My Story by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum appeared first on Small Business UK.

New research from DocuSign reveals that less than a quarter (22%) of British SME owners plan to expand beyond the UK.

This is because confidence levels have plummeted, largely down trade uncertainty facing the UK, increasing costs and red tape. In March this year, FSB’s Small Business Index (SBI) was negative for the third quarter in a row – that’s a first in its nine-year history.

Start of Something: Lessons in Scale, which surveyed 1,000 SME owners, found that the three most significant barriers to growth are:

• Financing (10%)
• Lack of experience (10%)
• Red tape (10%)

Perceived deficiencies in skills are also holding small businesses back.

When asked what skills they most regret not having, respondents said accounting/finance (22%) and IT/digital (19%) most highly. They’re also reluctant to accept outside investment, with only 37% of respondents doing so.

DocuSign has teamed up with Enterprise Nation to host The Start of Something: Lessons in Scale, a series of events in London, Manchester and Glasgow. The events will bring together entrepreneurs to share the secrets of their business growth.

“Growing a business across borders is challenging, particularly in times of macro-economic uncertainty. As such, it is perhaps unsurprising that many SMBs are focusing their efforts on the UK. Confidence plays a big part, and this is borne out by the results of our latest survey,” said Ronan Copeland, vice president of commercial sales, EMEA and GM Ireland at DocuSign.

“While start-up rates remain high, scale-up rates in Britain are still lagging behind those of other countries. This is not down to a lack of ambition, this is about opening up access to the skills and advice businesses desperately need to clear the common hurdles on the journey towards growth, including international trade,” said Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation.

“Fortunately, there is a great deal of help out there to take your business international – from advisory services, to outsourcing, to tools that take away the burden of much of the red tape.”

Further reading on expansion

Planning for overseas expansion: how to maintain a smooth transition

The post Less than a quarter of British SMEs plan to expand beyond the UK appeared first on Small Business UK.

Business owners need to prepare now to ensure their business can continue to trade with the EU if the UK leaves without a deal. The warning comes from HMRC which has proffered three steps for businesses to consider in order to do this:

• Register for an Economic Operator and Registration Identification (EORI) number;
• Consider how they want to make customs declarations, and
• Register for new Transitional Simplified Procedures (TSP).

Economic Operator and Registration Number (EORI) number

The first step businesses need to take is to register for an Economic Operator and Registration Identification (EORI) number. UK businesses that have only ever traded inside the EU will not have an EORI number. In the event of a no deal exit, businesses will be unable to continue trading with the EU without an EORI number; however, HMRC figures show that so far just 17% of these businesses have registered.

Customs Declarations

After getting an EORI number, businesses need to take the second step and consider how they want to make customs declarations. Businesses can appoint a customs agent if they want someone else to do it. Most businesses with customs obligations choose to use a customs agent.

Transitional Simplified Procedures (TSP)

For businesses that import goods into the UK from the EU using roll on roll off locations, they can take a third step and register for new Transitional Simplified Procedures (TSP). TSP will allow businesses to import without having to make a full customs declaration at the border, and postpone paying any import duties. For imports using other locations, and for exports, standard customs declarations will apply.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh9FuN2D5v4

Mel Stride MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury said: “We want businesses to be able continue trading with minimal disruption in any scenario but we also know that people tend to leave things until the last minute and we would urge against that.

“We are specifically advising businesses to take some simple steps to be prepared – the first thing they need to do is register for an EORI number, it is free and takes less than 10 minutes.

“Step by step advice can be accessed via GOV.UK – the help is there, we just need business owners to take action.”

In September 2018, December 2018 and January 2019, HMRC wrote directly to 145,000 VAT-registered businesses that only trade with the EU advising them to start their preparations and apply for an EORI number. There are another estimated additional 95,000 non-VAT registered businesses that also need to take action. Despite these letters HMRC says only 40,973 have registered for an EORI number since October.

To help businesses make import and export declarations, HMRC made £8m funding available for traders and intermediaries to support them with training and IT costs, of which there is still £3m remaining. Apply here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WERGzqLhgak

Further reading: EORI number: What it is and how to get or check one

The post Small businesses must act now to continue to trade with the EU appeared first on Small Business UK.

New research reveals that over 20 per cent of Brits don’t research local customs and traditions before they go abroad.

This can lead to some troublesome travel gaffs like leaving your chopsticks standing in your food while in China or refusing a coffee in Dubai.

It’s especially important for business travellers as the first impression is vital in wowing their international contacts.

Sidestep the embarrassment by researching the ways of your destination before you set off. These tips from Travelbag will come in handy too.

Japan

Food is central to Japanese culture so naturally there are a few finer points of etiquette to mention. Be careful not to cross your chopsticks or say no to a drink, but it’s perfectly fine to slurp your noodles up. Just don’t take them on the go with you.

Remember to bow to those you meet as it’s considered to be a sign of respect.

Australia

Hop in the passenger seat next to your driver – it signals friendliness and a willingness to chat. However, you shouldn’t be as forthwith when crossing the street as you could get a fine if you skip the green man.

And if that person across the road is swearing at you, it might mean that they actually like you.

Dubai

Like Japan, it’s custom to leave your shoes at the door. It’s less common in formal settings, but it’s best to err on the side of shoeless – no matter how much those kicks cost. While they’re exposed, don’t show off the soles of your feet. They’re considered unclean, so a gesture where you flash your sole could be seen as insulting.

Mexico

Business contacts should be fine, but in certain parts of Mexico, be wary of who you make eye contact with. Take it easy when discussing deals too as being pushy is considered rude.

Be warned that the more open Mexicans will stand closer than British people normally find comfortable while having a conversation. Try not to be alarmed.

Oh, and expect a lot of food while you’re there.

Thailand

Try not to raise your voice in Thailand as it’s frowned upon. No cracking jokes about the Royal Family either: far from being harmless fun, it could actually land you in prison.

It’ll feel very unnatural, but Thai people only eat with spoons or chopsticks as most of their national dishes are curry or rice. Even if you have a fork, it’s there to help you shovel food onto the spoon. Don’t put it in your mouth!

China

The number eight is lucky here so it’s widely favoured by businesspeople. Eight is pronounced as ‘ba’, which sounds similar to ‘fa’, and means wealth, fortune or prosperity. If you have a gift for your host, aim for something which comes in a set of eight.  Just don’t dish out clocks as these denote death.

When it comes to dining, there are a lot of rules to remember. Watch what you do with those chopsticks – never leave them upright in your food or use them to gesture at someone (use your whole hand to do that). Don’t worry, you can relax at the end of the meal and let out a burp. It’s a sign that you enjoyed it.

And like Japan, tipping is considered to be an insult in many establishments, so it’s best avoided.

India

Be careful about lighting up a cigarette in public and if you’re visiting a place of worship, take something to cover up your knees or your shoulders.

Remember to eat with your right hand only – the left is reserved for personal hygiene tasks. If you’re eating at someone’s house, bring the hostess a little gift.

There are 22 official languages spoken across India and each language has multiple dialects, so make sure you learn the basics of the right language before you head off.

The post Business travel etiquette: tips for your next international trip appeared first on Small Business UK.

Air freight is used most commonly when moving small high value items, or goods which are urgently required. The costs of air freight are significantly higher than those associated with sea freight, and are usually calculated based on weight rather than volume (which is used for sea cargo).

In 2016, some 54 million metric tonnes of goods was transported by air cargo. However, the cost of moving goods across the world has fallen significantly in recent years. Supply outstrips demand in some areas, making the price of moving goods via air freight cheaper than ever before on some routes.

If you’re weighing up your options for importing or exporting, you’ll want to do some research on the advantages and disadvantages of using air freight. Here’s all you need to know.

>See also: The essential guide to sea freight: Process, costs and timelines

What is air freight?

Air freight – moving goods, unaccompanied, by plane – is typically used for urgent deliveries, or products which are very expensive to produce. It’s relatively pricey compared to sea freight, and there are restrictions on what can be safely and legally transported using air freight.

There are several different choices when it comes to arranging an air freight delivery:

• Consolidated freight – consols – where one flight contains many different shipments.
• Back to back or direct services – here a single shipment is transported in the hold of a scheduled plane
• Charter services – occasionally, and at a very high cost – entire freight planes can be chartered for a single air freight delivery.

These shipments might be placed in the hold area of passenger planes or in dedicated freight planes, which can accommodate huge amounts of cargo on one flight.

What are the advantages of air freight?

There are a number of good reasons to choose to move your products by air. Here are some of them:

• Air freight is quick – especially if you use a direct service. You can expect shipments by air to arrive in days, while sea freight services inevitably take several weeks
• Air freight deliveries are charged based on weight rather than volume. They’re typically good value for smaller deliveries
• Shipping companies will be able to give you a few different options for arranging your air freight delivery, including consols and direct routes, as set out above
• As long as it is correctly packaged, air freight is usually a good way of moving fragile or valuable products. Damage is less likely compared to sea freight
• Air freight is tracked much like passengers on an airplane – security is tight.

What are the disadvantages of air freight?

Whether or not air freight works for your shipment will depend on exactly what you’re moving, and to where.

Here are some possible downsides you’ll want to take into consideration:

• Using air freight is much more expensive than sea freight – not only for the the delivery itself, but also for import duty and VAT which are calculated as a percentage cost of the cost of goods + cost of shipping
• If you’re using a consolidated freight shipment then you’ll have to wait until the flight is full before it is sent. That can mean it’ll take a few days, with flights going once or twice a week to main destinations
• There are much stricter regulations about what can – and can not – be moved by air compared to by sea freight. More on that in a moment.
• Air freight is considered to be environmentally unfriendly compared to shipping goods by sea.

Air freight costs – what can you expect to pay for?

Air freight pricing is usually based on the weight of goods being moved. However, if you’re trying to ship particularly large or oddly shaped objects, this might incur some surcharges. Using a consolidated freight route is usually the cheapest, although it might take a few days longer than a direct consignment.

The best prices are offered for goods which fill the standard size Unit Load Devices – ULDs – which go into the front part of the hold of a plane. These usually measure around 307cm long x 213cm wide x193 cm high.

Air freight costs vary significantly depending on what you’re moving and where. You can get a good idea of the range of costs from different providers, using a freight calculator – there’s one linked in the source section below for reference.

>See also: The essential guide to commodity codes

Here are some examples of the average market rate, for sending a 50kg box of low value general merchandise to the UK from different origin airports:

• From Malaga, Spain – USD 390 – 430
• From Shenzhen, China – USD 440 – 490
• From Bangladesh – USD 530 – 590
• From Mexico City, Mexico – USD 420 – 460
• From Sydney, Australia – USD 380 – 420

But it’s not just the amount the airline will charge that you need to think about. You’ll need to take into consideration the following when you’re working out the cost of your air freight consignment:

• Cost of goods
• Cost of delivery
• UK import duty if relevant – calculated as a percentage of cost of goods + cost of delivery
• UK VAT – calculated as 20 per cent of cost of goods + cost of delivery + cost of import duty

It’s worth noting that, because import duty and VAT are calculated as a percentage of the cost of goods + the cost of delivery, you’ll pay more in taxes and duty to import the same product by air rather than by sea. If you’re importing low value items this can make a significant difference to your profit margins.

Tip: When you’re looking to protect your business’ profitability, it’s not just the costs of duties and taxes you have to worry about. If you’re dealing with suppliers based overseas, you’ll also need to make sure you’re not hit by high bank fees for international money transfers.

Traditional banks tend to charge steep fees for moving money across borders – with an upfront fee and add a margin to the exchange rate they use. Many UK businesses working internationally find they’re better off using a service that specialises in international payments, such as TransferWise, when they pay overseas invoices. TransferWise is different than your bank, as it’ll give you the best available exchange rate for your transfer, with no hidden fees.

If you’re going to be working across multiple currencies frequently then there are ways to save even more with TransferWise. It’s actually a multi-currency borderless account that lets you hold your cash in over 40 currencies in the same account, and switch between currencies as and when you need to. There’s just a small transparent fee each time you convert money – and zero nasty surprises to worry about.

>See also: EORI number: What it is and how to get or check one

How air freight works

In most cases, air freight is arranged by skilled freight forwarding agencies. They might be large organisations which also arrange courier services and sea freight, for example. They’ll certainly have experience in navigating the customs processes and logistics of moving goods internationally.

Here are the general steps you’ll need to take to arrange to receive your goods via air freight:

• Choose an air freight forwarding company, and agree a price for the service you require
• The freight forwarder will collect the goods from your supplier – either they’ll be already packed (known as RFT – ready for travel), or the forwarder will carry out the necessary packing
• Your goods are taken to the airport, and need to clear customs at the point of origin
• Goods are loaded into the plane for their journey. In the case of a consolidated shipment this could take a few days
• On arrival in the UK, the goods have to pass customs again and will be only be released when all duty and taxes are paid
• The goods are delivered to you as per your agreement with the freight forwarding agency.

How long does air freight take?

Your freight forwarding agency will advise you on the expected arrival time for your shipment. As a guide, it it likely to take a week or so from most locations to the UK.
Some import agencies claim to be able to bring items from a Chinese factory, to a UK store, in as little as 5 days. However, as we mentioned above, to send goods by air in the most cost effective way, you’re likely to be using a consol service, which can increase the time taken a little.

Air cargo

Just like when you travel on an aeroplane as a passenger, there is a fairly long list of items you can’t send via air freight. Mostly these won’t prove surprising if you’ve ever been on a plane journey before. For example, you can’t air freight items such as:

• Explosives
• Gases
• Flammable or radioactive items
• Toxic and infectious items, chemicals or other products which carry safety warnings
• Strong magnets
• Anything considered dangerous to public health.

If your goods can’t be transported by air freight you might want to consider using sea freight instead. There are far fewer restrictions on what can be carried, although all goods must still be properly declared and labelled to ensure that they’re packaged and transported safely, and the importer has the correct licenses in place if necessary.

Air freight quote

Getting a quote for your air freight shipment should be pretty straight forward. You can either choose a specific freight forwarder and make all the arrangements directly through them, or try an online quotation tool to gather quotations from a number of different providers. Many national airlines also offer cargo services, so this can be a good place to start looking for quotes.

Air freight companies

If you’d rather work directly with a specific freight forwarding agency, then you might choose one of the large air freight companies set out below.

• Fedex has the largest aircraft fleet in the world, and is a global leader in express deliveries
• UPS was established in 1907 and now services over 200 countries for package and freight deliveries
• Group Emirates SkyCargo – part of the Emirates airline group, this is one of the largest cargo operations of any passenger airline, carrying millions of tonnes every year.

Air freight tracking

Air freight is closely tracked through its journey from one destination to another. As a customer you should be able to see where your cargo is, live, thanks to electronic tracking on all shipments. As you would expect with any airport process, security is tight, and safety checks are thorough on cargo in the same way as they are with passengers. After all, your goods might be shipped in the belly of a regular passenger plane.

Air freight is a good option for high value or urgent shipments – and is more affordable than ever at the moment. Talk to a specialist freight forwarder to help you decide if it’s the right route for your business.

The post Air freight guide: Process, costs, and timelines appeared first on Small Business UK.

FOB – which stands for Free on Board – is an Incoterm you might have come across when negotiating the purchase of goods for import to the UK.

But what exactly does FOB mean – and why does it matter?

Incoterms are important because they help define who is responsible for the costs and risks involved in international trade. Using the wrong Incoterm when buying goods from overseas can be an extremely costly mistake. You might find yourself needing to pay expenses you’ve not planned for, or your shipment might take longer than necessary.

Learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of FOB terms when buying goods from abroad, here.

FOB meaning

If you’re buying goods from a supplier based abroad, you’ve probably come across Incoterms. These are International Commercial Terms, defined by the International Chamber of Commerce. Incoterms appear in contracts and quotations from suppliers, and should explain who is responsible for the tasks and costs involved in international shipping.

Free on Board – which is more commonly called FOB – is most commonly used in sea freight. It’s a popular way to arrange import of consumer goods from Asia to Europe, for example.

Under FOB terms, the seller is effectively responsible for costs up to the point that the goods are loaded onto a ship, at a named port in the country of origin, and ready for transportation.

How FOB works

FOB terms mean that the seller will make arrangements to get the goods as far as an agreed port in their country of origin. That should cover local haulage, loading and export customs clearance. From that point, the buyer becomes responsible for the costs and risks involved in the shipment.

FOB Price

Under FOB terms, as buyer you become responsible for the costs of your shipment, once it is on the water and headed to the UK. You’ll need to make your own arrangements to have your shipment unloaded at the port in the UK, cleared through customs, and then moved to your store or warehouse by lorry.

Importing under FOB terms will mean that you pay your supplier more than you might under another arrangement – such as buying Ex Works. That’s because what you’re buying from the supplier includes not only the goods themselves, but also their transport to a port, and everything else needed to clear export customs.

One potential issue with buying FOB is that cross border transactions can be pricey. That can increase your overall costs significantly, and damage your profit margin. As well as the upfront fees added for international transactions, it’s common for banks to add a markup to the exchange rate they offer customers. That means that entrepreneurs buying from overseas pay over the odds every time they make an international transfer.

You could be much better off choosing a specialist in international payments like TransferWise, instead of going through your normal bank to pay your overseas supplier. With TransferWise you can make international payments using the real, mid-market exchange rate, with just a small transparent fee. That can mean your international payment is up to eight times cheaper than paying the same invoice through a UK high street bank. TransferWise is FCA regulated – just like your normal bank – and trusted by over three million customers around the world.

FOB risks

If you buy products overseas using FOB terms, you take on the risk and costs associated with the shipment, from the point it’s loaded onto a vessel for transportation. That means any loss, damage, or added costs from that stage onwards fall to the buyer.

Summary of FOB

Here’s a breakdown of where cost and risk lie, at different stages of the import process when using FOB terms.

Advantages of FOB

FOB is one of the most commonly used Incoterms – so you’ll not be surprised to hear that it has a few distinct advantages.

Seller deals with local export processes

Under FOB terms, your seller will arrange for the goods to be moved locally to the port you agree in the country of origin. They’ll also sort out the export processes there, and have the goods loaded onto a ship for you. This means you don’t need to worry about navigating an unfamiliar export procedure, or finding local haulage firms. It also means that, if there is an error in the export declaration, and the costs of customs duty go up, the seller will be charged, not you.

Buyer retains control of international shipping arrangements and costs

Although the seller will make sure your goods reach the port, you can choose which international shipping company you use. You might have a freight forwarder deal with this aspect of the process, or make arrangements yourself with an individual shipping firm. Either way, you retain a high degree of control over your shipment.

Disadvantages of FOB

There are some possible disadvantages of using FOB terms you’ll need to be aware of, too.

Higher unit prices

You’ll usually find that the unit prices of goods to be provided under FOB terms is higher than if you’re looking at Ex Works (also called EXW) shipments. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean the overall cost will be higher, as this price includes some transport costs.

Supplier might include a markup on the local transport costs

Because you don’t have control over the arrangements for getting your products to the port in the country of origin, you can’t be sure you’ll get the best available deal. You might find that the supplier adds a percentage to the actual costs, and keeps it as their own profit.

FOB VS EXW

To decide if FOB terms are right for you, it helps to know a bit about other common options. Ex Works (also called EXW) shipments are another option you might consider. With EXW terms, the buyer is responsible for every cost, and all of the risk, involved in the transportation of your goods to the UK. That means you have a high degree of control over the shipment, but also that any surprise additional costs are your responsibility.

Here’s a brief comparison of how costs are divided, using FOB and Ex Works Incoterms – and there’s more about EXW terms in this helpful article.

Who is FOB most suitable for?

FOB terms have broad appeal – in fact they’re pretty much the most popular possible choice for Incoterms. They are commonly used for shipping consumer goods from Asia to Europe. If you’re finding a supplier through Alibaba, you might even see that there are separate FOB unit prices shown, as Alibaba recommends FOB as the best Incoterm to use in many circumstances.

How to organise an FOB shipment

If you’re buying goods on FOB terms, it’s pretty common to use a freight forwarder to get the transportation and UK import processes set up. This can make life easier as you’ll usually only then have one point of contact to get your goods to the UK.

Alternatively you can make arrangements for international transportation yourself, although you’ll have to consider several different stages of the process, including the sea freight to a UK port, local haulage in the UK to get to your store or warehouse, and all the customs clearance processes required. If you need a little extra help to get all your import paperwork arranged, it’s possible to employ a customs broker to help.

FOB can be a cost effective and reasonably simple route to export to the UK. However, importing is an expensive process, and you’ll want to evaluate all your options, to make sure you get the right deal for your business.

FOB terms can mean that the proportion of your costs being paid to a company overseas is fairly high. Aside from getting the best available cost of goods and agreeing suitable Incoterms, make sure you’re not paying your bank too much in fees for your international invoices, as steep transaction fees can severely dent your profit margin.

The post FOB: How it works, price, and risks appeared first on Small Business UK.