The new Trader Support Service has been designed to help businesses moving goods under the Northern Ireland Protocol from 1 January 2021, after the Brexit transition period comes to an end. There will be changes in moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland whether or not a Free Trade Deal is reached.
If your business is moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland or bringing goods into Northern Ireland from outside the UK then you need to be prepared. It is vitally important that you consider how you will move goods in and out of Northern Ireland after 1 January 2021. Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, all Northern Ireland businesses will continue to have unfettered access to the whole UK market.
Since the Trader Support Service, backed by up to £200 million of UK government funding, was launched more than 7,000 businesses have signed up. A new contact centre has also been opened to support businesses with the registration process.
The Trader Support Service:
- will complete digital processes on behalf of all businesses moving goods into Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland Protocol;
- remove the need to purchase specialist software;
- saves traders significant time in completing declarations;
- reduces traders’ declaration costs as the service is free-to-use.
Businesses who sign up for the service will receive full guidance and support on the next steps to take as the 1 January 2021 approaches. This includes online training sessions and webinars to help give businesses the skills and expertise they need to ensure their Great Britain / Northern Ireland trade continues to operate smoothly.
