It has been a particularly rocky start to 2021 for the region’s businesses.
On top of tough new lockdown rules and the closure of non-essential shops and offices, a last-minute Brexit deal has placed great burdens on the economy.
Ports such as Dover have experienced big delays to freight movements due to the extra red tape importers and exporters now face.
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New regulations affecting cargo travelling between the British mainland and Northern Ireland have led to further hold-ups and fears for the stability of our new trading arrangements with the EU.
Meanwhile some British companies have decided to hold-off on trading with the Continent for the time-being as they consider opening new sites across the Channel to bypass customs issues.
Throw into the mix the recent to-ing and fro-ing over vaccine distribution from the EU and the situation looks difficult to say the least.
LeicestershireLive and sister site BusinessLive have teamed up with the Business Gateway Growth Hub for a live discussion to update company bosses on the latest situation and the action that needs to be taken to get ahead.
The webinar will be held from 11am to 12.15pm on February 24 with an introduction from LLEP Business Gateway Growth Hub manager Jon Egley.
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Speakers will include Ian Harrison, head of exports for the Department for International Trade in the Midlands, who will be able to provide details of the type of support available.
Andrea Collins, managing director of international trade specialist The Export Department will give her advice on what companies should be doing to make the transition to post-Brexit trading, as will LLEP board member and 海角视频 export champion Dr Nik Kotecha, founder of Loughborough medicines business Morningside Pharmaceuticals.
As well as hearing their thoughts, there will also be a Q&A session for company bosses to get answers to some of the big questions troubling them at this difficult time.
The event is free to join and
The webinar will be hosted on LeicestershireLive parent company Reach Plc’s new virtual events platform, The Awards Room, which gives attendees and sponsors the chance to experience real time networking whilst hearing from key speakers.
Everyone who registers to attend will be grouped together on their own online table and can then invite attendees from the public gallery or other tables to join them, allowing networking to take place during the event.
Each table will also have a private chat so that attendees can communicate with each other during the webinar.
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Nikki Kandola, head of sponsorship for England and Wales for Reach Plc has helped plan the event.
She said: “There was little doubt that leaving the EU would pose a headache for the region’s businesses.
“With the pandemic causing such big problems last year – and this year – many company bosses already had their hands full as they tried to keep their heads above water.
“Even those that tried to get ahead were struggling as the Brexit deadline approached before the last-minute deal was struck.
“These are early days and there are hopes the initial problems faced by many will ease.
“But having said that there is still a lot that needs to be done for many companies to get back to at least some semblance of normality when it comes to doing business with our European neighbours.
“We are organising this webinar to help those businesses that still need help to decide what to do next.
“It will shine a light on actions that could make the difference between a Leicestershire business having a bright future in Europe or cutting itself off from our biggest trading partner.”