HMRC Customs Grant Schemes

HMRC have extended the deadline for businesses to apply for customs support funding to 31 January 2021. There is still at least £7.5 million available so that more businesses can hire or train experts to deal with customs declarations. Details can be found here.”

On 31st October 2019 the UK is planned to leave the European Union (EU), which will mean businesses will have to apply the same customs rules to goods moving between the EU and UK as they would for the rest of the world.
From early September 2019, customs intermediaries, traders and hauliers who complete, or intend to complete customs declarations, following the UK’s exit from the EU, can apply for funding for training and IT. From early October 2019, customs intermediaries who currently complete customs declarations on behalf of its clients can apply for funding for recruitment costs.
We would encourage eligible businesses to apply early. The application window will close on 31 January 2020, or earlier once all the funding is allocated.

What are the grants?
Employee training
Provide funding for training that provides businesses and their employees with skills to:

Complete customs declarations or other declarations required to complete customs processes in the UK or EU (such as safety and security declarations).
Manage customs processes and use customs software and systems.

IT improvements

Provide funding toward purchasing the first year license of a packaged software solution to increase the automation or productivity of your business in completing customs declarations. The funding can also be used:

To buy hardware that’s needed for the software to run.
To install and configure the software and hardware.
For related software training.

Recruitment

Provide funding towards the costs associated with hiring new employees to complete customs declarations or other declarations required to complete customs processes in the UK or EU (such as safety and security declarations), and/or manage customs processes and use customs software and systems.

This includes funding for:

The indirect costs involved with recruitment including (but not limited to) advertising and marketing, application review and interview time, and on-boarding processes.
The direct gross salary costs of the new employee for the first 3 months of employment only.

For more information, please visit the dedicated customs intermediary grant website: https://www.customsintermediarygrant.co.uk/ or call the helpline on +44(0)28 9041 5471