Government's Business Readiness Fund awards £10.3 million to business organisations
The Business Readiness Fund helps business representative organisations and trade associations support members and non-members get ready for Britain leaving the EU.
- Government’s Business Readiness Fund awards £10.3 million in 131 grants to business organisations (31 October 2019)
Recipients of Business Readiness Fund grants as of 31 October
The full list of organisations awarded grants under the Business Readiness Fund are:
- Advertising Association
- Aerospace Wales Forum Ltd
- AMDEA: The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances
- Association of British Orchestras
- Association of Colleges
- Association of Labour Providers Ltd
- Association of Translation Companies
- Audio Producers Association trading as Audio UK
- Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce
- Belfast Chamber of Commerce
- Bio Industry Association
- Black Country Chambers of Commerce
- British Allied Trades Federation
- British Beer and Pub Association
- British Chambers of Commerce
- British Constructional Steelwork Association
- British Educational Suppliers Association
- British Footwear Association
- British In Vitro Diagnostics Association (BIVDA)
- British Insurance Brokers Ltd
- British Plastics Federation
- British Promotional Merchandise Association
- Build UK
- Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys
- Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering
- Chartered Institute of Public Relations
- Chemical Industries Association
- Country Land and Business Association (CLA)
- Coventry and Warwickshire Chambers of Commerce
- Cumbria Chamber of Commerce
- Cumbria Tourism
- Data Marketing Association
- Devon and Plymouth Chamber of Commerce
- Dorset Chamber of Commerce
- East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce
- East Mids. Chamber
- Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce
- EEF Limited (trading as Make UK)
- Energy Industries Council
- English UK Ltd
- European Tour Operators Association
- Exeter Chamber of Commerce
- Federation of Small Businesses
- Food and Drink Federation
- Freight Transport Association Limited
- Freight Transport Association Limited
- Fresh Produce Consortium (UK) Ltd
- Future Water Association
- Glasgow Chamber of Commerce
- Glass and Glazing Federation
- Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce
- GWE Business West
- Hampshire Chamber of Commerce
- HCF CATCH Limited
- Herefordshire & Worcester Chamber of Commerce
- Hire Association Europe
- Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce
- Independent Publishers Guild
- Independent Schools’ Bursars Association
- Information Technology Telecommunications and Electronics Association trading as Tech UK
- Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers
- Institute of Directors
- Institute of Directors (NI)
- Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce
- Industry & Enterprise
- LAPADA - The Association of Art & Antiques Dealers
- Law Society of Northern Ireland
- Law Society, England & Wales
- Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry
- Locality (UK)
- London Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Manufacturing NI
- Medilink North of England Ltd
- Motorsport Industry Assoc
- Music Industries Association
- National Federation of Fish Friers
- National Market Traders Federation
- National Office Animal Health (NOAH)
- National Sheep Association
- Networks Co-operative Association
- Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade
- North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce
- Nuclear Industry Association
- Outdoor Industries Association CIC ltd
- PLASA Events Ltd
- Professional Publishers Association Ltd
- Proprietary Association of Great Britain
- Public Relations and Communications Association
- Rail Alliance
- Recruitment and Employment Confederations
- Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers
- RTC North
- Sameday IOC trading as Institute of Couriers
- Scottish Chambers of Commerce
- Scottish Council for Development & Industry
- Scottish Engineering
- Scottish Whisky Association
- Shellfish Association of Great Britain
- Shropshire Chamber of Commerce Ltd
- Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders
- Soil Association (Caterers)
- Soil Association (Organic)
- Solar Trade Association
- Somerset Chamber of Commerce
- South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- South Wales Chamber of Commerce Enterprise and Industry
- Sport and Recreation Alliance
- St Helens Chamber
- Surface Engineering Association
- Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce
- The Aluminium Federation
- The Association of Electricity Producers Ltd
- The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
- The Independent Schools Association
- The Institute for Export and International Trade
- The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
- The Publishers Association
- The Road Haulage Association Ltd
- The UK Interactive Entertainment Association
- The Wine & Spirit Trade Association
- UK Chamber of Shipping
- UK Cinema Association
- UK Fashion & Textile Association
- UK Finance
- UK Screen Association Ltd
- UK Steel
- UK Theatre Association
- UK Warehousing Association
- Universities UK
- West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce
- Wirral Chamber of Commerce
Original update 11 October 2019
- Recipients include Federation of Small Businesses, British Chambers of Commerce, Institute of Directors, the Shellfish Association of Great Britain and the UK Fashion & Textile Association
- 69 organisations already awarded £6.3 million and named on 11 October
- government to host online Brexit readiness event for up to 10,000 businesses on 16 October
124 business organisations of a variety of sizes across the UK have now had grants approved to help get companies ready for Brexit on 31 October.
The Business Readiness Fund was launched to help business representative organisations and trade associations to support members and non-members alike to get ready for Britain leaving the European Union on 31 October. It closed for applications on 7 October.
Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom confirmed that 69 grants have already been awarded to a range of groups, making up £6.3 million of the fund so far, including:
- the Federation of Small Businesses, which is planning interactive webinars, digital engagement and marketing to reach 1 million businesses
- the British Chambers of Commerce, which will use funds to produce expert guidance for businesses about the implications of leaving the EU without a deal on 31 October, specifically around customs declarations, rules of origin and tariffs
- the Institute of Directors, which will be disseminating accessible guidance, providing a range of workshops and information sessions, and facilitating one-to-one advice for business leaders
- the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which will undertake targeted communications to members, the businesses they advise and firms in general. Funding from the grant will provide for printed and digital resources for chartered accountants, as well as non-members, focusing on ten key questions businesses need to consider in order to prepare as thoroughly as possible in the event of the UK leaving the European Union on 31 October without a deal
- the Shellfish Association of Great Britain, which will help prepare the shellfish industry for Brexit on 31 October across the UK via 3 projects; providing an information pack, an information event on 18 October in London and
tailored advice to individual businesses
- the UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT), which is holding a series of free events across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland over the coming weeks to provide practical advice and support for UK fashion and textile businesses in the lead up to the UK’s exit from the European Union. The association has prepared a free Brexit Checklist, a comprehensive guide to Brexit readiness for the UK fashion and textile industry and will be operating a dedicated Brexit helpline to help minimise disruption to trade
The Fund is also supporting business groups across the United Kingdom:
- Aerospace Wales Forum Ltd
- West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce
- the Law Society of Northern Ireland
- Manufacturing NI
- Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade
- the Institute of Directors (NI)
- Scottish Engineering and The Scottish Council for Development & Industry
are among those receiving grants.
Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom, said:
I’m delighted that this Fund has been able to support such a large and diverse wide range of business groups right across the United Kingdom as we get ready to leave the EU on 31 October. The funding has to be used to support both members and non-members, so I urge all businesses to get in touch with organisations in their local area so they can take advantage of the support on offer.
FSB’s Director of External Affairs and Advocacy, Craig Beaumont, said:
It is important in the time that we have left before 31 October, we do everything we can to support small businesses and the self-employed to plan and prepare for Brexit. We are focused on giving small firms the information they need to prepare in the most small business friendly language possible through interactive webinars, digital engagement and marketing to reach 1 million businesses.
IoD Director General Jonathan Geldart, said:
The IoD is ready to play its part supporting all directors to be better equipped in dealing with the risks of a no deal. Obviously this isn’t easy, but directors can only use their best judgement, and the more information they have, the better they can respond with agility to whatever happens.
Iain Wright, ICAEW Director for Business and Industrial Strategy, said:
Many smaller businesses are less prepared for a no deal Brexit and are turning to Chartered Accountants, in their capacity as trusted business advisors, for assistance. In addition to work we’ve already undertaken to help our members - and the 3 million UK businesses they advise and run - to prepare, this funding will enable us to provide targeted information where it’s needed in the run-up to 31 October.
Adam Mansell, CEO of UKFT, said:
This fund has allowed us to deliver industry-specific information at key centres across the UK, and will ensure our guidance can reach as many firms as possible. We have also developed a suite of resources encompassing the most important things our businesses need to know.
Sarah Horsfall, Assistant Director of the Shellfish Association of Great Britain, said:
This funding is enabling SAGB, a small association, to have the resource to help the shellfish industry prepare for the changes Brexit will bring.
Over 1,000 people from across the UK have already attended one of the free Brexit Business Readiness Events organised by government. The government has also announced that it will host a bespoke online event for up to 10,000 businesses on 16 October, covering everything they need to know to get ready for Brexit. This will include:
- sessions from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on practical steps all businesses need to take
- advice from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on handling personal data
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on essential actions to ensure continuity of trade for the food and drink, farming, fisheries, waste and chemicals sectors
- HMRC on Import, Export and customs for business
- the Department for International Trade on future trade with the rest of the world
- the Home Office on the settled status scheme
Each session will include an interactive panel so viewers will be able to ask questions of policy experts. Material will stay online until 31 October so people can continue to refer to videos. Sign up to the online event through the Brexit Business Readiness Events website.
Recipients of Business Readiness Fund grants as of 9 October
As of 9 October the full list of organisations awarded grants under the Business Readiness Fund are:
- Advertising Association
- Aerospace Wales Forum Ltd
- AMDEA: The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances
- Association of Colleges
- Association of Labour Providers Ltd
- Association of Translation Companies
- Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce
- Black Country Chambers of Commerce
- British Beer and Pub Association
- British Chambers of Commerce
- British In Vitro Diagnostics Association (BIVDA)
- British Insurance Brokers Ltd
- Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys
- Chartered Institute of Public Relations
- Chemical Industries Association
- Coventry and Warwickshire Chambers of Commerce
- Cumbria Chamber of Commerce
- Cumbria Tourism
- Devon and Plymouth Chamber of Commerce
- East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce
- East Mids. Chamber
- EEF Limited (trading as Make UK)
- Exeter Chamber of Commerce
- Federation of Small Businesses
- Glasgow Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce
- GWE Business West
- Hampshire Chamber of Commerce
- HCF CATCH Limited
- Herefordshire & Worcester Chamber of Commerce
- Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce
- Independent Schools’ Bursars Association
- Information Technology Telecommunications and Electronics Association
- Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers
- Institute of Directors
- Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce
- Industry & Enterprise
- Law Society of Northern Ireland
- Law Society, England & Wales
- Manufacturing NI
- Medilink North of England Ltd
- Motorsport Industry Assoc
- Music Industries Association
- National Office Animal Health (NOAH)
- Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade
- North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce
- Outdoor Industries Association CIC ltd
- Professional Publishers Association Ltd
- Proprietary Association of Great Britain
- Scottish Council for Development & Industry
- Scottish Engineering
- Shellfish Association of Great Britain
- Shropshire Chamber of Commerce Ltd
- Somerset Chamber of Commerce
- St Helens Chamber
- Surface Engineering Association
- The Aluminium Federation
- The British Woodworking Federation
- The Independent Schools Association
- The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
- The Institute of Directors (NI)
- The Publishers Association
- The Road Haulage Association Ltd
- The UK Interactive Entertainment Association
- The Wine & Spirit Trade Association
- UK Fashion & Textile Association
- UK Theatre Association
- Universities UK
- West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce
- Wirral Chamber of Commerce