Manufacturing Forum Blog
A blog by Tom Nadin
Acting chair of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce Manufacturing Forum
The focus of the Manufacturing Forum during the last year has been on dealing with life during the pandemic and post Brexit whilst looking forward to what resources the sector needs survive post-Covid19 as well as finding a way forward with our new trade relationship with the EU.
Funding and financial support has, and continues to be, near the top of the agenda for our meetings as we made sense of the Government’s Jobs Retention Scheme and the plethora of loans, grants and schemes brought in by the government to help business through successive periods of lockdown.
At the end of March 2021, the Chambers held the Staffordshire Manufacturing Expo in conjunction with Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub. This prestigious online event featured support sessions from Staffordshire and Keele Universities, the Growth Hub, the Skills Hub and the DIT.
Special guest presenter was Adrian Painter, MD of Stoke based 3D printing industry leaders Tri-Tech 3D. Ian gave an overview of their technology and its application in several sectors including automotive, aerospace, animation, general manufacturing, and many more.
Rob Lawley, head of international trade at the Chambers, has attended meetings in the past to update the group on the export situation with the EU, post-Brexit. The fact that the UK and EU only signed a deal on 24th December, leaving a matter of days in between the Christmas and New Year meant business has had to pick up the pieces of a chaotic start to our new relationship with EU.
Rob and his team have literally worked seven days a week since January to ensure the customs declarations paperwork was in place and to offer the necessary guidance for the new arrangements.
The ability to continue trading with the EU and dealing with supply chain issues are unfortunately topics that are not going away any time soon. Therefore, dissemination of as much information and guidance to help manufacturers remains a priority. The Chambers has a wealth of information available both online and through contacting the international trade team.
Another topic that occupies the forum is the Skills agenda. Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Skills Hub headed by Suzanne Quinn, have done a fantastic job, working with hundreds of Staffordshire businesses, facilitating training relevant to each organisation, and providing significant funding to offset costs.
The Manufacturing Forum is grasping the opportunity to shape the skills agenda so that we get the right tools for the job and help the next generation take the sector forwards.
Equally important in this quest is take up of apprenticeships and placements through the Kickstart scheme which offers fully funded six-month work placements for 18–24-year-olds up to the end of 2022.
You will see that there is a lot of work to do to ensure our manufacturing sector maintains its competitive edge. We are always keen to welcome new forum members so that we have representation from all shapes and sizes of manufacturing and engineering businesses. We meet quarterly and meetings usually last for about two hours maximum.
If you would like to find out more about what we do or are considering joining the Manufacturing Forum, please email me: tom.nadin@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
If you want to talk about any business issues, you can call the Chambers switchboard on 01782 202222 or call the Stoke and Staffs Growth Hub Helpline on 0300 111 8002 or email: info@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
To join the Forum discussion click here Hot Topics — Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce
- Published in News
Export Documentation
Completing a customs declaration is complicated and you may need software. So you may want to get someone to deal with customs for you. At Staffordshire Chambers we have spent the last 18 months training staff to ensure that we are ready to act as Customs Agents for companies who need a reliable, trusted partner to clear their goods through customs and exporting their manufacturing goods.
It is anticipated that there will be an additional 400 million Customs Declarations required each year at a cost to industry of £13bn as a result of leaving the EU and the Customs Union. Many, many companies who trade solely with the EU will not have the knowledge, software or capacity to deal with the new customs regime. So with less than six months to go before the end of the Transition Period it is imperative that companies start to understand the level of complexity and what will be required to ensure that trade with the EU remains uninterrupted. We are well placed to handle all your customs declarations, but we need to start working with you now. A process has to be established. Your business needs to be ‘set up’ on the customs software and work needs to be done to ascertain the correct commodity codes are being used. This takes time so even if you do not require the service at the moment it is vital to have the process in place.
For further information please call 01782 224405
- Published in International Trade
Customs Declarations
Completing a customs declaration is complicated and you may need software. So you may want to get someone to deal with customs for you. At Staffordshire Chambers we have spent the last 18 months training staff to ensure that we are ready to act as Customs Agents for companies who need a reliable, trusted partner to clear their manufacturing goods through customs. Ryan Dakin.
It is anticipated that there will be an additional 400 million Customs Declarations required each year at a cost to industry of £13bn as a result of leaving the EU and the Customs Union. Many, many companies who trade solely with the EU will not have the knowledge, software or capacity to deal with the new customs regime. So with less than six months to go before the end of the Transition Period it is imperative that companies start to understand the level of complexity and what will be required to ensure that trade with the EU remains uninterrupted. We are well placed to handle all your customs declarations, but we need to start working with you now. A process has to be established. Your business needs to be ‘set up’ on the customs software and work needs to be done to ascertain the correct commodity codes are being used. This takes time so even if you do not require the service at the moment it is vital to have the process in place.
For further information please call 01782 224405
- Published in International Trade
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- Published in International Trade
What is an ATA Carnet?
Facilitates the temporary exportation of goods for up to 12 months. Acting as a ‘passport’ presented at each customs point, this enables the temporary exportation of goods without having to lodge duties on deposit with overseas customs.
There are three categories of ATA Carnets:
• International trade fairs and exhibitions
• Commercial samples
• Professional equipment
For further clarification on ATA Carnet please call 01782 224405
- Published in International Trade
What is a European Certificate of Origin?
A Certificate of Origin is an important international trade document which identifies the origin of goods in a particular export shipment. Virtually every country in the world will consider the origin of the goods they import to determine what duty will be applied or, in some cases, whether the goods may be legally imported at all.
A Certificate of Origin may be required to:
• Meet requirements for the overseas importer
• Meet quota requirements imposed by the importing country
• Comply with banking requirements
• For other official and commercial reasons
Exporters can apply for a Certificate of Origin electronically through the Chambers of Commerce.
For more information on Certificates of Origin please call 01782 224405
- Published in International Trade
What is an EUR1?
An EUR1, also known as a ‘movement certificate’, enables importers in certain countries to import goods at a reduced or nil rate of import duty under trade agreements between the EU and beneficiary countries.
Comprehensive information on the rules relating to EUR1s can be found in Customs Notices 827, 828 and 832.
For further clarification and to find out which countries qualify please call 01782 224405
- Published in International Trade
Trade Credit Insurance
Protect your income on overseas trading.
Whether you are trading in the UK, established internationally, or expanding into new markets, cash flow is a critical element of your commercial well-being. Issuing an invoice to your business customers does not guarantee payment on time.
Chamber Credit Insurance helps protect your business from bad debts and late payments and supports you when invoices are not paid. You can minimise your risk when exploring new markets and gain access to market expertise from Euler Hermes, the world’s largest credit insurer. Protection in three easy steps:
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• If there is a serious delay in payment from one of your customers, you will receive assistance in collecting the debt where appropriate, through the collections service
• If the debt is not collectable, for example because of insolvency, then your claim will be processed swiftly to ensure that your cash flow is not adversely affected.
Special offer for all Chamber members: Members can access 10 free credit limit opinions with Chamber Credit Insurance. With a value of £250, your 10 free credit limit opinions will allow you to immediately see the creditworthiness of new and existing customers.
You can use your free credit limit opinions to assess domestic or international customers and prospects – and gain valuable insights for your sales and marketing strategies.
To find out more call 0800 197 1298 or visit www.chambercreditinsurance.co.uk
- Published in Finance & Funding, International Trade
Translation Services
Do you want to expand your business? Find support through the Chamber to approach new customers in new markets with support from our Department for International Trade (DIT) Advisors.
Our team can guide you through access to Department for International Trade services designed to introduce you to new markets, give you access to chambers of commerce worldwide via the Global Business Network, signpost trade missions and inward missions to Staffordshire, and provide useful information and research about markets abroad. When you’re entering new markets, or servicing existing customers, you want your message to be correct, whether it’s in English, Chinese or Spanish. Let us support your business in markets where English isn’t the primary language. Translation services can help to avoid the costly mistakes and missed opportunities that come from failure to communicate.
The Chamber can help your business can with contacting prospective customers, creating exhibitions and developing client relationships and more. Let us help your business say what it means with bespoke translation and interpretation services.
Contact the DIT Advisor service today to get started with expanding your business abroad! Email info@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
- Published in International Trade
