GOING GLOBAL GOING GLOBAL
Weather the Brexit storm with resilience
A company always has something to sell whether that be goods or services. They have to provide continued value to their customers if they wish to carry on the business. They must have ambition as evidenced by their strategy and, the means to succeed through the tools and techniques used to provide value to a customer. They can adopt a system of continuous improvement, add extra services to their product and use the latest marketing methods to attract and retain customers. But there are some ‘soft’ skills that separate some companies from the
others. The key, the single most important skill is resilience; an ability to ride the storm of change or unexpected circumstances. It defines how quickly an organisation can recover from difficulties and adapt to meet new market conditions. Brexit is one of those occasions and a reason for checking that your
company is as resilient as it can be. This is certainly important for companies that both sell and/or buy from overseas, but in this interconnected world, companies down stream of ‘international’ will also certainly be affected by changes to the business environment. For those traders that are resilient there will always be opportunities, for those that are not so flexible so then some of the tips below may help.
• If you intend on buying or selling within Europe, then you will need to get your EORI number sorted. It is a free ten-minute exercise. Visit:
www.gov.uk/eori
• If you have only ever sold to the EU but not beyond then you need to learn how to export – Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce have some great training courses. Visit:
www.devonchamber.co.uk/international-trade-training- programme
• If you are used to exporting and importing you will need to be aware of the changes to INCOTERMS from 2020. Again, Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce have the course for you. Visit:
www.devonchamber.co.uk/international-trade-training- programme
• Check your packaging defines the origin of your goods. You will no longer be able to say goods are made in the EU post-Brexit.
• Consider applying for AEO, AE or REX status – these will form part of your competitive advantage and identify your company as a Trusted Trader.
• Talk to your supply chain. If you regularly source from the EU have you checked that they know how to export? It may be another challenge that they will have to face.
• Are your staff trained in export and/or import procedures? Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce have great courses to NVQ level and the Institute of Export offer qualifications and advanced training. Visit:
www.export.org.uk
• Do you need some interim help or an audit to check exactly how your company measures up? HMRC could come and check on your transactions at any time. It is always better to avoid a charge of non- compliance and any subsequent fine. Visit:
www.internationatradematters.com
‘The key,
the single most important skill is resilience’
LEADING ADVICE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE TEAM
Autumn 2019 Chamber Profile 37
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