KIB Newsletter March 2020

Posted on: 2nd March 2020

Diary Dates:

International Trade Events in Kent (and a few nearby!):

Innovative Sector Exchange (ISE) Project Update

Through the ISE project, Kent County Council and Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce are organising the following events in which Kent companies can participate:

  • Visit for manufacturing & engineering companies the to the Kortrijk, Belgium to see the inspiring ‘Factories of the Future‘ initiative in West Flanders. 6 March.
  • A visit for Kent’s agri-food businesses to the Tavola fine food & drink trade show in Kortrijk from 16-17 March
  • The ISE Innovation Summit in West Flanders on 24 March with keynote speakers from several global companies including Cargill, P&G and Arcelor Mittal and a chance to interact with businesses and contacts from Kent’s neighbouring European regions.
  • Participation in an Innovative Ingredients event for the ISE Food & Drink Cluster companies in Ghent on 28 April

These events are all free of charge and further details will be available on the ISE website – please click here to visit the site for more information.

Book a free 121 Diagnostic:

Kent businesses still have time to request a 121 innovation & internationalisation assessment with an international trade expert from Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce which will give you some practical recommendations to help your business grow.

For more information about ISE Project please email Natasha White or visit the project website: www.iseproject.eu

Boost4Health Extended!

Following the success of the Boost4Health project which helped over 40 Kent Life Science businesses with internationalisation through offering micro-financing, coaching and matchmaking opportunities with our partner regions in mainland Europe, a short extension has recently been awarded to the project.

This will enable Kent companies to benefit from connections to major Life Science clusters in France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and now Ireland.

The project extension will include matchmaking /networking opportunities at events including Medica and BioEurope and a small travel grant pot for Kent Life Science companies.

Further details will follow shortly!

Kent Food & Drink Export Cluster

Through the SIE Interreg project, Kent County Council and the KIB partners will be inviting Kent companies in the food & drink to join a small export cluster. We will be running a 6 month programme of activity including:

  • Group Export readiness training
  • Commissioned overseas market research for the group
  • Visit to the Netherlands to meet contacts in the Dutch market
  • Visit to the SIAL trade show in Paris including participation in matchmaking activities

Keep an eye out for more information on the KIB website shortly.

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Business Readiness – leaving the EU

Whilst many details are yet to be worked out, some new information is available to help companies (including exporters) to ensure that they are ready to continue to trade with the EU in future.

Border controls

The government’s recently announced that full import controls will be in place for goods moving  into and out of the EU to Great Britain after the transition period ends on 31 December 2020.

This means that all goods entering the UK from the EU will be subject to the same checks and controls as goods coming from the rest of the world and that there will be new processes that UK exporters and importers of EU goods will have to comply with.

From 1 January 2021 businesses will need to make customs declarations to move goods into and out of the EU. Businesses can prepare for border controls by making sure they have an EROI number and consider how they might want to make declarations such as using a customs agent.

HMRC has extended the deadline for businesses to apply for customs support funding to 31 January 2021. There is still over £7 million available so that more businesses can hire or train experts to deal with customs declarations. Please click here for further details.

New online tool ‘Check How to Export Goods’

The Department for International Trade has launched a digital tool to give businesses the information they need to export goods out of the UK market. The free tool, called ‘Check How o Export Goods’, has launched on GOV.UK.

The tool helps any business, particularly SMEs, to trade with over 160 markets by providing up to date information and guidance on what they need to know and do in order to export goods to an EU country or to the rest of the world.

Businesses can input their product commodity code and export destination to access product-level and country specific information including duties, regulations, customs procedures and trade agreements between the UK and other markets.

Please click here to find out more here.

Export Masterclass Series

The Department for International Trade is organising an Export Masterclass Series to help ambitious UK businesses fast-track growth overseas.

The masterclasses focus on four critical elements of international trade:

  • Researching & Selecting International Markets
  • Managing Overseas Agents & Distributors
  • Export Pricing in International Markets
  • Linked In & Social Media for International Trade

 The events will take place in different locations across the South East in March. Places are limited to 20 companies per masterclass.

Find out more about the masterclasses by clicking here.

Ensure your IP is Protected

Enterprise Europe Network and the Innovate2Succeed project are working with the Intellectual Property Office to offer highly subsidised IP audits for Kent businesses.

An IP audit allows you to gain a clear picture of your IP assets to ensure you are able to manage your own IP and develop an effective management plan or strategy to grow your business, including internationally.

Companies can apply for a £3,000 IP audit but would need to make a contribution of £500.

For further details about the scheme please click here.

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