Research to explore the Future Operating Model for UK borders
Research with EU and Rest of World businesses and intermediaries to explore experiences and needs arising from new customs controls.
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Following the UK’s exit from the EU, a transition period began which ended with the introduction of new customs controls for trade with EU countries on 1 January 2021.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) commissioned Verian (formerly Kantar Public) to explore businesses’ and intermediaries’ experiences and needs from new customs controls to inform the transition to Full Customs Controls (FCC), the Future Operating Model (FOM) for UK borders, and the 2025 Borders Strategy.
Verian conducted 67 interviews and 6 focus groups over 2 stages of research. Stage one consisted of interviews with 40 businesses and 15 intermediaries, which were conducted in March to April 2021.
Stage 2 consisted of 12 interviews with businesses who took part in stage one and 6 focus groups with 25 businesses who had not previously taken part. Fieldwork was conducted in October to November 2021.
Interviews were carried out with a mix of businesses and intermediaries of different sizes, types and sectors. The sample included businesses with different trading patterns and frequencies with EU or Rest of World (RoW), or both, and different levels of intermediary use.