Currently reading: Car industry body to launch no-deal Brexit aid package for small firms
SMMT chiefs to offer advice and support on coping with Brexit to automotive companies

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has launched a new Brexit Readiness Programme – a contingency aid package to help companies in the UK automotive supply chain in the event of Britain leaving the European Union without agreeing a deal.

While officials from a number of major car firms, including Jaguar Land Rover and Toyota, have warned of the impact a no-deal Brexit could have on them, the new SMMT initiative is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The SMMT has previously warned on several occasions of the negative impact it feels Brexit is having on the UK car industry.

The bulk of SMEs in the UK automotive supply chain employ fewer than 10 people, and the SMMT says they could face significant challenges given likely new requirements and processes if a Brexit deal is not reached before Britain leaves the EU on 29 March next year.

In the first instance, the Brexit Readiness Programme will engage five legal and accountancy firms to offer advice and consultancy to SMMT members on subjects including trade and tax arrangements outside the EU, customs procedures, adapting to regulation changes and employment law. The scheme will involve a free Brexit helpline.

“A strong local supply chain is the backbone of any manufacturing sector, and ours has thrived thanks to massive restoring efforts and the ability to trade freely and frictionlessly with the EU,” said SMMT boss Mike Hawes.

“A no-deal Brexit could have devastating consequences. With the clock ticking on negotiations, businesses must plan for all eventualities, including the worst. Our new support package seeks to mitigate the threat of no deal by helping businesses navigate the complex trade realities of a post-Brexit landscape.”

According to the SMMT, the UK automotive supply chain supports 82,000 jobs and contributes £4.9 billion to the economy, with companies exporting £3.4bn worth of parts into the EU each year.

Read more

Brexit: what it means for the British car industry

JLR boss Speth: hard Brexit will cost jobs

Toyota: no-deal Brexit could halt UK production for months

SMMT boss: 'there is no Brexit dividend for the car industry - only risk'

James Attwood

James Attwood, digital editor
Title: Acting magazine editor

James is Autocar's acting magazine editor. Having served in that role since June 2023, he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the world's oldest car magazine, and regularly interviews some of the biggest names in the industry to secure news and features, such as his world exclusive look into production of Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets. 

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TheDriver 10 October 2018

Here we go again

SSDD

Vimeous 10 October 2018

Link?

James do you have a link to this newly announced plan?

It would help those Businesses who rely on SME's and read your column to factor it into their Brexit planning and assist their SME suppliers wherever possible.

Symanski 10 October 2018

Link on SMMT website.

Vimeous wrote:

James do you have a link to this newly announced plan?

It would help those Businesses who rely on SME's and read your column to factor it into their Brexit planning and assist their SME suppliers wherever possible.

 

https://www.smmt.co.uk/2018/10/smmt-launches-brexit-contingency-aid-package-as-high-risk-auto-suppliers-brace-for-no-deal/

Symanski 10 October 2018

SMEs worst affected.

It's those businesses who trade with goods that are of a small value which will be must affected by Brexit.   Ones who's trade with the EU makes their business viable.   But when their customers will face not only delays, but extra costs from their local customs and PROCESSING CHARGES from their postal service or courier they'll stop buying from the UK.

 

Those who support Brexit haven't ever looked at bringing in goods from outside the UK.   What the extra costs are, not just duty and VAT, but the charges made by our postal services and couriers for processing those.   Those charges can be many times the customs duty that's on a low cost item like a CD or Blu Ray.

 

It's why we as a nation don't buy our CDs and movies from the USA but buy locally.

xxxx 10 October 2018

Qu

What's a CD?

Symanski 10 October 2018

Cross!

xxxx wrote:

What's a CD?

 

It's a cross-dresser.   Someone who dresses angry.

max1e6 10 October 2018

Symanski the liar

'Those who support Brexit haven't ever looked at bringing in goods from outside the UK.'

Another Remainer lie from Symanski. Give the pro-EU propaganda a rest. We are sick of it.

Symanski 10 October 2018

Truth hurts?

max1e6 wrote:

Another Remainer lie from Symanski. Give the pro-EU propaganda a rest. We are sick of it.

 

Do you care to explain why if I sell goods to Norway I've got to put a customs sticker on the label?   Them having a better deal than Cananda +++, and what was formally the preferred plan.

 

Having to pay a customs charge, and the fee to your carrier, is a necessity that you can not avoid.    Didn't Boris, Moggs and Farage explain that one to you?   If you don't like it, go back and ask them about it.

 

Rtfazeberdee 10 October 2018

max1e6 wrote:

max1e6 wrote:

'Those who support Brexit haven't ever looked at bringing in goods from outside the UK.'

Another Remainer lie from Symanski. Give the pro-EU propaganda a rest. We are sick of it.

 

ROFLAMO -  you've not done any research at all, have you...

Luap 10 October 2018

Rtfazeberdee wrote:

Rtfazeberdee wrote:

max1e6 wrote:

'Those who support Brexit haven't ever looked at bringing in goods from outside the UK.'

Another Remainer lie from Symanski. Give the pro-EU propaganda a rest. We are sick of it.

 

ROFLAMO -  you've not done any research at all, have you...

 

Grow up.