Help and advice is readily available to assist SMEs in dealing with Brexit and - despite the uncertainty and the doom and gloom - the 海角视频's departure from the EU can also offer new opportunities for businesses.
And a key opportunity is simple - for businesses to prepare for Brexit - and reassure their clients that they are ready to continue offering the best services once the 海角视频 leaves the EU.聽
Those were some of the key messages presented at a Brexit Briefing for West Midlands businesses hosted by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and Reach Plc at the Holiday Inn, in Kenilworth.
One of the other main messages was that the business of Brexit is a fast-changing and fluid one - and with the deadline now extended to January 31, businesses have more chances to stay ahead, and beat Brexit fatigue.
The event saw a panel of experts offering advice on a variety of subjects: the support available to business, international trade and customs issues post-Brexit, VAT regulations and employing EU nationals.
Introducing the event, Reach plc editor in chief for the Midlands Marc Reeves said the aim of the briefing was to point out to business what they could be doing and who they could be talking to when it comes to advice and support.
He said: 鈥淭oday is about highlighting the kind of information that is available from the Coventry聽 and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership Growth hub."
How businesses can keep up with the helter skelter of Brexit
Three years ago Coventry and Warwickshire Chambers of Commerce established the Brexit Club to help local businesses stay informed about Brexit.
Chaired by David Burton, the Brexit Club is made up of representatives from sectors including manufacturing, automotive, construction, legal, leisure and logistics.
It has helped to create the chamber's - a three minute online survey which provides businesses with bespoke advice.
Mr Burton said one of the big problems at the moment was keeping pace with what he described as 鈥渢he helter skelter of Brexit鈥.
He said he did have concerns that some businesses were not making adequate preparations.
鈥淎 few were prepared for June, which was one of Mrs May鈥檚 target dates, but when it comes to October certainly many businesses I talked to have not made preparations,鈥 he said.
Mr Burton sounded a cautionary note when he said 鈥渢he spectre of no-deal is still with us鈥.
And warned: 鈥淚 hope that the Government have now got the message from pretty much all of business that no-deal is just a disaster.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think there can be no-deal - there will have to be some deal - otherwise the whole of Europe, not just the 海角视频, will seize up.鈥
Take the free 3 minute Business Brexit Health Check
The reality of the post-Brexit era - with a deal
David Hooper from International Freight Solutions painted a picture of a post-Brexit world where a deal had been done.
He said: 鈥淚 am going to jump ahead and talk about the deal - not no-deal - some deal is agreed and this is what businesses will have to do to prepare.鈥
Mr Hooper said it was important to remember there would be a transition period no matter when a deal is signed, giving businesses time to adjust.
鈥淭here will be a period when nothing will change,鈥 he said. 鈥淚f a deal gets signed-off it doesn鈥檛 mean we have to change the way we work overnight.鈥
Looking at key government pledges Mr Hooper said the Prime Minister had said the 海角视频 would leave the Customs Union and Single Market but have a comprehensive and balanced free trade agreement between the EU and the 海角视频.
He said that would inevitably mean big changes, that 鈥渇ree trade is not frictionless trade鈥 and that a 鈥渂og standard deal鈥 as a third country would have 鈥渁 major impact on the way we trade and the way people trade with us鈥.
Unlike no-deal, a deal would see zero tariffs on EU/海角视频 originating products but customs declarations would have to be undertaken and there would be intense scrutiny over the origin of goods.
Mr Hooper said: 鈥淓xporters and importers will need to change their processes and procedures.
鈥淲hen exporting and importing with the EU there will be more preparation and communication required and more knowledge will be required.鈥
He said that goods made in third countries, such as India, China and the US, would still attract duty if re-exported to the EU and added: 鈥淩ules of origin can be very complex.
鈥淜nowing the origin of goods under a free trade agreement will be absolutely critical.
鈥淏usinesses will need to ensure they declare origin correctly and have evidence.
鈥淓xports to your customers will be heavily penalised if you have mis-declared the origin and you will be heavily penalised if your supplier mis-declares origin.鈥
In conclusion Mr Hooper said there would be additional admin and that complex supply chains would require careful management.
Take the free 3 minute Business Brexit Health Check
How to manage VAT in the post-Brexit world
VAT expert Ellen Main-Jeffrey from Burgis Bullock offered businesses detailed advice on dealing with VAT in the post-Brexit world, but also warned them that they would need to get up to speed with EU VAT changes they will have to adhere to in any transition period.
She said: 鈥淟ocal businesses have to be looking at how Brexit affects them and they need to talk to their customers and communicate with customers, to make sure they are still happy to supply in terms of different conditions and incoterms - who has responsibility for insurance, freight delivery terms etc.
鈥淎lso, if companies trade across EU borders - and unless we get a no-deal - companies need to be looking at new rules the EU have introduced on triangulation or chain transactions.
鈥淏asically they need to be compliant with the new VAT rules until the end of the transition period.
鈥淚f there is any uncertainty they should seek professional advice.鈥
Take the free 3 minute Business Brexit Health Check
Immigration in a post-Brexit world
Matthew Davies from Leamington-based law firm Wright Hassall addressed the issue of EU nationals currently working for businesses and recruitment of EU nationals in the future.
He said: 鈥淚 think the main issue with Brexit is businesses being able to identify where skills gaps are and where that is going to affect EU nationals working now.
鈥淏ut also attracting skills from the EU after Brexit, where people from the EU may be less keen to come here because of their careers and establishing their family life here after Brexit.
鈥淚t follows from that you need to know your own workforce. You need to know your own recruitment needs and you need to ask yourself as a business whether you are doing everything you can be doing in terms of retaining talent.
鈥淎lso giving the right message as to how you will support people coming for the first time from the EU to say they have a viable future in the 海角视频 that works for them.鈥
Mr Davies said a priority needed to be issues with the EU Settlement Scheme, designed to help EU nationals already working here.
He concluded: 鈥淭he settlement scheme is designed to be simple but people do have difficulties with it.
鈥淚t can be anything from the app not working to their application being mired in delay when they thought it would only take a few minutes.
鈥淭here is currently a backlog of thousands and the Government needs to be putting resources into solving the problem cases.鈥
Brexit-fatigue - and how to beat it
Phil Peak from Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub said 鈥淏rexit fatigue鈥 was undoubtedly an issue.
He said: 鈥淚 think it is fair to say we are all fed up to the back teeth with Brexit and that is translating into businesses not preparing
鈥淔ifty six per cent of the companies we have spoken to have done preparation but that also means forty four per cent haven鈥檛.
鈥淪eventy per cent of companies say they are far more prepared having attended a local event.鈥
Brexit Countdown
Brexit is coming in
An encouraging aspect of the ongoing uncertainty though is that many businesses are seeing Brexit as an opportunity, according to Mr Peak.
鈥淭here are also opportunities,鈥 he said. 鈥淐ompanies are using it to look at areas of business they haven鈥檛 looked at before.
鈥淥ne business is looking towards Commonwealth countries.
鈥淎nother company which works in the automotive sector is looking at other sectors they have never worked in before, ie rail.
鈥淭here are opportunities you could actually find just by thinking a little bit differently.鈥
He concluded: 鈥淭here is Brexit fatigue but please don鈥檛 let that make you tire of preparing.
鈥淎nd do look at opportunities. Talk to your chamber of commerce, talk to your growth hub, they can help you.鈥
Free Business Brexit Health Check
Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce is leading an initiative across the West Midlands to help regional businesses avoid dangerous pitfalls before Brexit.
Being prepared for Brexit offers businesses the opportunity to reassure their clients in the 海角视频 and overseas that they are prepared to continue offering their services once the 海角视频 leaves the EU.
They are working with the government - and Chambers of Commerce across the region - to offer a free online Business Brexit Health Check, which takes less than three minutes to complete - and you can take it
Other partners are Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, Black Country Chamber of Commerce, Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce and Herefords & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce.
The health check will provide you with a free personalised report on how Brexit may impact your business, with tips and resources to help you get Brexit-ready.
Experts are also on hand to take phone calls from West Midlands businesses who wish to talk through any issues they are experiencing - you can call 02476 654321.
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