Hampshire: Cross-border support as Brexit queries rise

Companies seeking independent help and advice about post-Brexit trading are being offered a strengthened package of support from Hampshire Chamber of Commerce.

The business membership organisation has begun providing more firms with one-to-one sessions on international trade queries, plus general support, in line with a request from the partnership body Enterprise M3.

It follows a significant rise in enquiries as exporters and importers get to grips with new rules, processes and documentation requirements.

Ross McNally, Hampshire Chamber’s chief executive and executive chairman, said the chamber was receiving ‘multiple daily enquiries’ about aspects of cross-border trade since the transition from the EU.

He added: “Some businesses have been further ahead in their planning than others but overall we have experienced a large increase in queries. We are here to help and we will forward any particularly complex enquiries to those individual experts in our team who are best placed to answer them.”

McNally said businesses in the Enterprise M3 area and across Hampshire have been raising questions about issues such as new customs procedures and documentation, export and import duties, VAT, rules of origin, labelling, temporary movement of goods, and dispute resolution.

Under its wider, ongoing programme of support for exporters and importers, Hampshire Chamber offers regular training courses covering different aspects of international trade. Upcoming events include dedicated webinars on trading opportunities with Spain and Germany.

For more information, call 01329 242420 and choose Option 3 for the international trade team, email [email protected] or visit www.hampshirechamber.co.uk.