Pubs must prepare their businesses for Brexit now

22-Jan-2021 - Last updated on 22-Jan-2021 at 10:18 GMT

Prepare: pubs must get their businesses in order for Brexit

Pubs have been urged by business minister Paul Scully to ensure they are properly prepared amid changes brought about by the end of the Brexit transition period.

At a briefing this week Scully said that to avoid any disruption all businesses including pubs, bars and restaurants must ensure they have set themselves up for the future.

While Brexit was technically delivered at 11pm on 31 January 2020, Britain entered an 11-month transition period until the end of 2020 during which travel to and from the EU, freedom of movement and unencumbered UK-EU trade continued while negotiations were finalised.

“The zero tariff, zero quota trade deal the UK has struck with the European Union will help unlock investment and protect jobs across the United Kingdom and will also allow businesses to benefit from new trade deals with partners all around the world. It is fantastic news for businesses in every part of the UK,” said Scully.

Huge strides

“We know that businesses have made huge strides to get ready for the UK’s new start as an independent trading nation. Since the deal was announced, we've had the highest ever number of daily visits to the gov.uk/transition pages during the campaign.

“But to avoid any disruption to their business and ensure they can seize all the opportunities from the UK’s new start, it’s imperative that firms up and down the UK are prepared.”

Scully directed pub operators to the website gov.uk/transition where information can be found on how to take action on the six key areas for business post Brexit.

The six areas are:

Goods
Services
Travel
People
Data
Accounting and reporting

He added action must be taken on all these areas despite a business’s size or sector, and all information and paperwork must be in order to make sure the correct work permits and visas are in place.

Coronavirus business support

Scully also spoke about the support given to businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, saying: “We have so far spent over £280bn on our response, with additional support already confirmed for 2021.

“We have protected 12m jobs through the furlough and self-employed schemes – at a cost of over £70bn.

“Businesses legally required to close can now claim one-off grants of up to £9,000, on top of the existing grants worth up to £3,000 paid every month. These grants are aimed particularly at hospitality, retail and leisure businesses, which as I say we know have been hardest hit by the restrictions.”