HMRC has extended the deadline of its customs training fund until 31st May 2019 to help businesses prepare for Brexit.

The £8m fund, which was announced in October last year, is designed to help businesses prepare for a no-deal scenario and includes funding to train intermediaries and traders completing customs declarations, IT improvement funding and the increase in the number of short-term courses available to support customs brokers.

Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Mel Stride MP commented that: “We are doing everything we can to get businesses ready for the UK leaving the EU, however, businesses also need to take action themselves to prepare.

“There is help available – we have provided funding to support businesses with customs processes, and we are now extending the deadline to 31 May 2019 giving more time for applications.

“We have already received over 300 applications, and I’d urge businesses to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out.”

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The two grants which can be applied for, the training and IT improvements grants, are applicable to businesses who complete customs declarations and import/export into the EU, whilst firms with fewer than 250 employees, an annual turnover of less than €50m and who complete customs declarations on behalf of EU-trading firms can apply for the latter.

If your businesses could benefit, you can read more about applying for the grants on the Government website here.