A global trade expert is staging a series of free workshops for South West businesses to tell them how they can access a £10million Government Brexit fund.
Linda Middleton-Jones, of Devon-based International Trade Matters, will be delivering fully-funded workshops for businesses across Devon businesses which are keen to get their hands on a slice of the cash HMRC is providing for firms that need to manage customs declarations.
The taxman has made £10million in grants available to UK importers and exporters that to help with the costs of hiring staff - including £3,000 for recruitment costs, and up to £10,000 for salary costs – to deal with new Brexit paperwork.
Businesses are encouraged to apply early, as applications will close once all the funding has been allocated, and by January 31, 2020, at the latest.
This is on top of £16million already announced to help firms deal with customs arrangements once the UK leaves the EU.
Ms Middleton-Jones said: “A further £10million is also being invested to help companies with the costs associated with recruitment of key personnel in preparation for Brexit.”
Miss Middleton-Jones is an experienced expert in international trade, and in 2017 helped organise a major symposium - South West Summit: Blueprint for a Global Britain - in Plymouth to help firms sell overseas.
She is a law graduate who specialised in international trade law and European law and has worked with chambers of commerce in Plymouth and Somerset and with the Government’s now defunct Manufacturing Advisory Service.
She is also a director of Devon and Plymouth Chamber of Commerce and has now been appointed chairman of the Academic Board at the UK’s Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT).
“I’m excited to be on the board,” she said. “The IOE&IT enhances the export of the UK by setting and maintaining professional standards and principally achieved by the provision of education, training, and business support.
“More than ever, with Brexit around the corner, the advantage for businesses lies in the competence of local companies, and the future of export growth must be underpinned by a sound foundation of knowledge and support to South West firms.”
Ms Middleton-Jones works with specialists across the globe and delivers help and support from introductions, workshops, contract compliance, regulatory advice, overseas research, pipeline sales forecasting, advice, PR and marketing, business development.
In 2018 she organised a trade mission to Russia for South West businesses, and is planning a Gibraltar trade mission in 2020 which has received national interest.
The OE&IT is the professional body representing and supporting interests of businesses involved in importing, exporting, and international trade.
Businesses interested in taking part in Ms Middleton-Jones’ fully funded courses should email: linda@internationaltradematters,com or view on International Trade Matters’ web portal by clicking here
