Information for businesses

The Government provides information to support business, in preparation for leaving the EU. You can find detailed information on the Gov.uk website. Import and export advice can be found here.

The Chamber of Commerce provides a post-transition Brexit checklist with possible changes following from Brexit that your business may need to consider.

The Government website also has advice on employing EU citizens and help and support if your business trades with the EU.

The council’s economic growth team can help with all kinds of business support enquiries, and can be contacted via email at invest@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or by calling 023 9284 1641.

The council also provides information for businesses including a regular business email update that you can sign up for and get all the latest updates.

Many businesses might need to deal with custom declarations for the first time due to changes to the imports and exports to and from the EU.

Fortunately, Portico customs agency, owned by the council, regularly handle thousands of customs declarations at all UK ports. They have the right systems to talk to HMRC to make sure goods reach their destination without delay.

When commissioning an agent you should always look for AEO accreditation. This means they can process paperwork faster and benefit from priority clearance. It also means a lower risk score. This may reduce the number of checks customs carry out on your documents and goods.

Portico are fully accredited and authorised by the government, so you know you are in safe hands. They can also make duty payments up front on your behalf, with deferment powers increased to £1m.

So if you’re looking for an experienced specialist to help you navigate the new UK – EU customs arrangements, get in touch today.

More information of preparations for exiting the EU can be found on the Exiting the EU page.