17 video explainers covering key Brexit topics for small businesses

The government has released new videos to explain key elements of Brexit and the actions businesses need to take. To register to view the videos, go here. We've included links to the videos below alongside more government resources and guidance.

For more advice, connections with experts and to ask a question, visit Enterprise Nation's Brexit Advice Service.

Businesses that import and export

Changes to importing and exporting to and from are being introduced in stages. The first stage began on 1 January 2021 and from 1 July 2021 there will be full controls in place for all goods. Watch the video.

Supporting resources:

• Import goods into the UK: Step by step

• Export goods from the UK: Step by step

• Get UK customs clearance when exporting goods outside the EU: step by step

• Find information about how to move goods from the UK to the rest of the world

• Export licences and certificates from 1 January 2021

• A guide to how the border with the European Union will work after the transition period

• Apply for grants to help your business with customs declarations

• Check duties and customs procedures for exporting goods

• Access webinars and videos on importing and exporting goods

• Contact HMRC for guidance and answers to general enquiries on importing and exporting

Placing and selling goods in GB, Northern Ireland and EU

Watch this video to understand how to place 'new approach' goods on the Great Britain, Northern Ireland and EU markets, changes to conformity assessment bodies for new approach goods, and actions you should take to ensure your products are market compliant.

Supporting resources:

• Designated standards

• UK market conformity assessment bodies

• Placing manufactured goods on the market in Britain

• Placing manufactured goods on the EU market

• Placing manufactured goods on the market in Northern Ireland

• Moving goods into, out of or through NI

• Moving qualifying goods from Northern Ireland to the rest of the UK

• Using the UKNI marking

• Using the UKCA marking

• Guidance on conformity assessment and accreditation

• Apply to be a UK CAB for product safety and metrology

Businesses hiring overseas staff

Watch this video for advice on employing staff from overseas, what your business needs to do to register as a licensed sponsor to hire eligible people from outside the UK, and the EU Settlement Scheme.

Supporting resources:

• EU Settlement Scheme: Employer toolkit

• Recruiting people from outside the UK

• Employing EU citizens in the UK

• Employer information: UK points-based immigration system

• Apply for a sponsor licence so you can sponsor foreign workers or students

Moving goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland

There are changes for goods movements into Northern Ireland from Great Britain. The Northern Ireland Protocol outlines new administrative processes for traders, including new digital import declaration requirements and digital safety and security information for goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. Find out more by watching this video.

Supporting resources:

• Moving goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland

• Register for the Trader Support Service

• Movement Assistance Scheme: Get help with moving agrifood goods to Northern Ireland

• Moving qualifying goods from Northern Ireland to the rest of the UK

Businesses operating online

Rules relating to online activities in European Economic Area (EEA) countries may newly apply to UK online service providers. Watch this video for information on how to check for any legal requirements in any EEA countries you operate in, and what you need to do if you hold a .eu domain
or want to register one.

Supporting resources:

• The eCommerce Directive and the UK

• Registering and renewing .eu domain names in the UK

Trade tariffs

The EU Common External Tariff (CET), no longer applies for UK businesses trading internationally. The UK now has its own tariff schedule, the UK Global Tariff (UKGT). UKGT applies to goods imported into the UK. Watch this video to find out more about the UKGT and where to find information about what tariffs apply to goods you import into the UK.

Supporting resources:

• Look up tariffs, taxes and rules to trade with the UK

• Look up commodity codes, duty and VAT rates

• Importing goods covered by a tariff-rate quota

• How to import and export goods between Great Britain and the EU

Rules of origin

To access zero tariffs, goods must meet the Rules of Origin requirements and have the right documentation. If not, the exported goods may be subject to EU tariffs. Watch this video to find out more about the types of rules products may need to comply with as well as the documentation required to comply.

Supporting resources:

• Rules of origin for goods moving between the UK and EU

• Check which rules of origin apply to your imports

• Trade tariff: look up commodity codes, duty and VAT rates

• Claiming preferential rates of duty between the UK and EU

• Check duties and customs procedures for exporting goods

• Import, export and customs for businesses: detailed information

• A guide to how the border with the European Union works after the transition period

• Contact HMRC for guidance and answers to general enquiries on importing and exporting

Recognition of professional qualifications

The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement includes a route for UK qualifications to be recognised in the EU and vice versa. Until mutual recognition agreements have been put in place, UK-qualified professionals should follow guidance on using their qualifications in an EU member state. You may need to have your UK professional qualification officially recognised if you want to work in a profession that is regulated in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Watch this video to find out more.

Supporting resources:

• Rules for selling services: Recognition of professional qualification

• The European Commission's regulated professions database

• The UK Centre for professional qualifications (UK NARIC)

• Changes to legal practice: Guidance for legal professionals

• How to get EEA professional qualifications recognised in the UK

Businesses working with intellectual property

This video provides information on changes to UK intellectual property law including exhaustion of intellectual property rights, EU Trade Marks (EUTM) and Registered Community Designs (RCD), changes to EU-UK cross border copyright mechanisms and patents.

Supporting resources:

• Intellectual property after 1 January 2021

• Exhaustion of IP rights and parallel trade from 1 January 2021

• EU trade mark protection and comparable UK trade marks from 1 January 2021

• Protecting your trade mark abroad

• Changes to EU and international designs and trade mark protection from 1 January 2021

• Changes to unregistered designs from 1 January 2021

• Address for service for intellectual property rights from 1 January 2021

REACH chemical regulations

If you sell or distribute chemicals in the UK and the EU, you'll need to follow both UK REACH and EU REACH rules. Watch this video to understand what you need to do to make sure you comply with the chemical regulations from GB and the EU.

Supporting resources:

• How to comply with REACH chemical regulations

• Full UK REACH guidance

• Use the 'Comply with UK REACH' service tool

Businesses shipping waste between GB and EU

If you ship waste out of Great Britain you must comply with EU customs guidelines or waste shipment regulations, otherwise your planned waste shipment could be delayed or stopped. This video provides information on what your business needs to do.

Supporting resources:

• Importing and exporting waste from 1 January 2021

• Check the list of designated customs offices in EU member states

• New EU rules on shipments of plastic

• Custom offices designated for the entry of waste shipments into and their exit from the community

Businesses providing services to EU markets

UK services firms can still access the EU market, including as business travellers, cross-border services suppliers or investors, but there are some restrictions and changes. The changes vary according to the sector and the EU member state. Watch this video to find out more.

Supporting resources:

• Selling services to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein

• Information for UK businesses providing services and travelling for business in the EEA

• New rules for travelling into the EU for business

• Changing your company registration from 1 January 2021

• Guidance for legal professionals on the new rules for legal practice

• Guidance on accounting for UK companies

• Guidance for UK auditors and audit firms operating in the European Economic Area

• Guidance on the system for recognising EU qualified architects in the UK

Businesses involved in the Horizon 2020 funding service

The UK remains associated with Horizon Europe which gives UK scientists, researchers and businesses access to funding on equivalent terms as organisations in EU countries. Watch this video for more information on arrangements for existing Horizon 2020 award holders and arrangement for applying to Horizon Europe, which will run from 2021-2027.

Supporting resources:

• Horizon 2020: What it is and how to apply for funding

• Working on EU-funded projects

Businesses preparing and auditing financial accounts

There have been changes to the UK's corporate reporting regime which affect a small number of companies. Watch this video to find out more about changes to accounting and auditing.

Supporting resources:

• Accounting for UK companies

• Guidance: UK audit firms, UK auditors, and those with UK audit qualifications in the EEA

• Accounting for European Economic Area organisations

Businesses engaged in emissions trading

A UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) replaced the UK's participation in the EU ETS on 1 January 2021. Watch this video to find out more about the new system and obligations for participants in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) for the 2020 compliance year.

Supporting resources:

• Participating in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS)

• EU ETS obligations and access to EU registry systems in 2021

• Complying with the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) as an aircraft operator

Chemical regulations

This video explains what your business needs to know about the main changes to chemical regulations and actions companies should take.

Supporting resources:

• UK chemical regulations guidance

• Chemical related legislation

• Chemicals sector: End of transition period guidance

Businesses involved with data

The Brexit deal allows the continued free flow of personal data from the EU/EEA to the UK after the transition period until adequacy decisions come into effect, for up to six months. EU adequacy decisions for the UK would allow for the ongoing free flow of data from the EEA to the UK. Watch this video to find out more about steps your business should take to safeguard against any interruption to the free flow of EU to UK personal data, the legal framework and international data transfers.

Supporting resources:

• Actions you need to take regarding data protection and data flows with the EU/EEA

• ICO guidance: Data protection after the end of the transition period

• ICO: Keep data flowing at the end of the UK's transition out of the EU

• Keep data flowing from the EEA to the UK: Interactive tool

• Data protection after the transition period for small businesses and organisations

• Call the ICO helpline: 0303 123 1113

Advice on Brexit and your small business

Access more tips, connect with experts and ask questions in Enterprise Nation's Brexit Advice Service.