From 29 July 2020 businesses can apply for IT grant funding to cover IT expenditure needed to meet the requirements of Brexit. Staged border controls will begin in January 2021, at the end of the transition period. The Government is making funding of £50 million available to help businesses prepare for the additional customs declarations which will come in to play at that point.  Several of our customers have successfully applied for the funding (in previously released funding waves) and it is certainly worth checking if your business meets the eligibility criteria.  Funds will be allocated on a first come first served basis – so worth looking into sooner rather than later.  

Is your organisation eligible for a grant? 

You must have been in business with a branch in the UK for at least 12 months and be in good standing with HMRC. 

You must also meet one of the following descriptions: 

• Be an importer or exporter and complete or intend to complete declarations internally for your own goods 
• Complete or intend to complete declarations on behalf of your clients 
• Recruit, train and place apprentices in businesses to undertake customer declarations 

The scheme will close for applications once the funding is fully allocated or by 30 June 2021.  

 What can the grant cover? 

There are 3 funding streams to the grant – IT – Recruitment – Training.  

The IT grant is able to fund: 

• The first year licenses of a packaged software solution to increase automation or productivity in your organisation in completing customs declarations 
• To buy hardware needed for the software to run 
• To install and configure the software and hardware 
• For related software training 

There are some exclusions – such as network costs or bespoke software packages. You can claim for money spent on eligible improvements since 12 June 2020 

How to apply for a grant? 

Price Waterhouse Cooper are administering the grant application process on behalf of the Government.  You can find more information on the eligibility criteria and register to apply here.   Our Technical Consultants are on hand to help you work out if your business meets the criteria and answer any questions you have relating to the technical requirements.  Just give us a call if you would like to talk this through with our experts. 

RedMosquito 2020, IT Support Glasgow, Edinburgh and throughout the UK.