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We’ve all seen the Government’s campaign to encourage businesses to be ready for the changes in EU trading arrangements on Jan 1st. But, are you sure your business is completely ready? We’ve put together a checklist of the jobs most businesses will need to do. We hope it’s useful for you.

Checklist: declarations for goods that travel between the UK and the EU

1. Define who will be Importer/Exporter of record in UK, needing an EORI starting with GB 
2. Define who will be Importer/Exporter of record in EU27, needing an EORI starting with NL, FR, DE, ES etc. 
3. Appoint an Agent/Customs Intermediary in UK, to submit the Import/Export Declaration
4. Appoint an Agent/Customs Intermediary in EU27, to do corresponding Export/Import Declaration
5. Ensure that data required for customs declarations is available before the goods leave warehouse
6. Ensure the accuracy of the data, check compliance on import declarations
7. Ensure the accuracy of the data entered on export declarations and check compliance for VAT zero rating
8. Define and capture the declaration process with forwarder to pre-lodge export declarations, get P2P status for all exports and link the MRN to the GVMS in an SOP
9. Define Inco Terms with customers and suppliers
10. Review classification: UK will use the UK Global Tariff 
11. Review classification:  EU will use the Common External Tariff, current rates are listed next to the UKGT
12. Decide whether use Postponed VAT Accounting for import VAT from 1st Jan. 
13. Understand changes for movements to Northern Ireland (NI) and register for TSS 
14. Register for Goods Vehicle Movement System (GVMS) when available through Government Gateway 
15. Continue to submit Intrastat arrivals, if you meet the threshold for arrivals after 1 Jan 2021 you will be required to submit for 12 months

If you can put a tick next to all fifteen items, congratulations on a high level of preparation. If not, our advice is that, if you can work through these tasks, your business will be well prepared for the new trade environment starting in just a few weeks. I regularly post on the IES blog where there’s lots more relevant to the import export business. IES blog

Nominations are now open for the Broadland District and South Norfolk Councils’ Business Awards 2025, sponsored by local law firm Birketts LLP.

Businesses based in the two districts are invited to nominate themselves in any of the ten categories to be in with a chance of winning one of these prestigious awards.

Broadland District Council’s Cabinet Member, Cllr Martin Booth, said: We have such a wide variety of businesses operating across both districts, from huge multi-nationals to one-man bands, in sectors as diverse as food and drink production, retail, insurance and tourism. These businesses are the lifeblood of our local economy and deserve to be recognised for their dedication and the hard work of their staff.”

South Norfolk Council’s Cabinet Member Lisa Overton-Neal, said:

“South Norfolk is proud of the local businesses that make our district such a vibrant place. We have a huge range of independent shops and businesses as well as multi-national concerns and this is a chance to congratulate them on their success and recognise their tremendous work.”

Businesses are invited to nominate themselves in the following categories:

Business Growth, Business Innovation, Employer of the Year, Environmental Impact, Excellence in Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, Excellence in Insurance, Financial and Professional Services, Food and Drink Producer of the Year, New Business, Small Business of the Year and Tourism Business of the Year.

Residents are also invited to vote for their favourite Retailer of the Year and Pub of the Year. By voting they will automatically be entered into a prize draw and be in with a chance of winning £100 of shopping and pub vouchers. There will be four lucky winners, two from each district.

Nominations close on Friday 13 December and winners will be announced on 19 March at an awards ceremony at Norwich City Football Club, with the support of headline sponsor Birketts LLP.

To nominate your business, or to vote for your favourite retailer and pub visit the Business Awards page: Broadland and South Norfolk.

Business Awards 2025 flyer A5

We’re in Q4, folks, and it’s crucial for businesses to start preparing their marketing for the Christmas rush.

Getting a headstart is key to maximising your visibility and sales during this peak shopping period.

Smash Marketing understands the importance of being prepared and can ensure your campaigns are ready and vibrant for the holiday season.

Not sure what to plan?

Here are a few tips to get you started.

Learn More: Christmas Marketing Ideas For Small Businesses | Smash Marketing

Prestigious Fundraising Event for Tapping House marks the launch of new Hospice brand.

Norfolk, 18^th October – Last Friday evening, the magnificent Sandringham House set the stage for a remarkable night of opera, generosity, and community spirit as Tapping House hosted a prestigious fundraising event that honoured the care the Hospice provided to the wife of Charity Ambassador, Giuilo Codacci-Pisanelli. This elegant evening celebrated both the exceptional care given to Giuilo’s late wife and all the brave patients supported by the Hospice, making the night a heartfelt tribute to the Hospice’s dedication to compassionate care.

The event also marked the official launch of Tapping House’s exciting new brand identity, symbolised by the iconic dragonfly—a timeless emblem of transformation, hope, and resilience. This dragonfly now embodies the Hospice’s mission to provide compassionate care to patients and their families across Norfolk, continuing to be a beacon of support for those facing life-limiting illnesses.

Set against the backdrop of royal grandeur, the evening was filled with heartfelt performances and a reminder of the community’s connection to the Hospice’s mission, making the evening even more special.

Attendees were treated to a breath-taking evening of Verdi’s much loved opera ‘La Traviata. Performed beautifully by Diva Opera in an intimate setting in the state Ballroom. Mingling amongst distinguished guests and enjoying the beauty of Sandringham, Jeanette Hill had these lovely words to say about the evening, “Thank you for an amazing evening at Sandringham. It exceeded our wildest imagination. Everything about the evening was just perfect.”

Tapping House is also delighted to announce that the evening’s fundraising efforts raised an incredible £43.348 for the Hospice, a sum that will go directly towards supporting its excellent and outstanding care services. Care that Tapping House has been providing to the community of North and West Norfolk for 40years. A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who attended and contributed to this memorable event, the generosity of those who bid in the auction, our generous sponsors and the kindness of those who donated such wonderful items, played a pivotal role in the night’s success.

Nicola Ellis, CEO gave an emotional speech on the night, sharing her excitement about the new chapter Tapping House is about to enter and her optimism for the future, she said this about what the evening and refreshed brand means to the Hospice, “The dragonfly symbolises our commitment to embracing change and moving forward with grace and purpose, and there could not have been a better way to launch this new chapter than at Sandringham with such wonderful people by our side. Every person who attended has helped us continue our mission of care, and for that, we are eternally grateful.”

This enchanting evening marks a new era for Tapping House as it embarks on an exciting new chapter under its refreshed brand. But this wonderful event also launches a year of upcoming celebrations of Tapping House providing 40 years of outstanding palliative care to those who need it most.

There’s a saying in business that changing your branding should be a ‘symbol of change’, rather than an excuse to simply ‘change a symbol.’ 

The first time we’ve undergone a serious rebrand in 22 years is a symbol of a changing Naked, evolving to stay up to speed with the world around us. Our core values and beliefs we live by remain as relevant today as in 2002. But in truth, our message had become muddled. Our overall look and feel, rather dated.

Read more

 

The final round of the Caterham Graduates Racing Series brought Alpha 7 Motorsport to Donington Park National, with the team running seven cars across the 135 and 150 classes. Following Jamie Ellwood’s dominant performance at Anglesey, where he secured the CGRC 150 Class Championship, he switched to the 135 Class for the weekend, borrowing teammate Amanda Anderson’s car.

Friday began with frustration as fog delayed the start of testing, adding a tricky element for drivers to deal with. Once it lifted, the track dried out, allowing for some good dry running, although many red flags throughout the sessions led to a stop-start rhythm. Despite these interruptions, the team prepared well for the races ahead.

Saturday’s 150 Class qualifying session was wet, setting the tone for what would be a challenging day for the drivers. However, Race 1 was dry, offering some respite from the earlier conditions. Amanda Anderson encountered gear selection issues right at the start of Race 1, dropping her to the back of the pack. Despite this setback, she staged a strong recovery, engaging in a fierce battle with Andy Johnson for 11th place. In one of the weekend’s closest finishes, Johnson narrowly beat Anderson by just 0.03 seconds, earning the People First Millisecond Award.

Matthew Willoughby had a mixed weekend, retiring from Race 1, but his efforts throughout the season were rewarded as he secured second place in the overall 150 Championship, a fantastic achievement for the Alpha 7 driver. Meanwhile, Ian Anderson enjoyed some exciting on-track battles, particularly with Charles Elliott, who pushed him hard in both races. Ed Benton, in his debut season, successfully completed his required six racing signatures, allowing him to remove his novice cross. His progress continues to impress, and he now sets his sights on the CGRC Novice Cup as he looks to build on this promising start.

The second 150 Class race took place under heavy rain, with visibility drastically reduced. The spray made the opening laps particularly dangerous, but all drivers navigated the conditions well, showing impressive car control in such treacherous weather.

In the 135 Class, Jamie Ellwood, driving Amanda Anderson’s car, faced similarly tough conditions. The damp track made Race 1 a challenge, but Ellwood was determined. He battled fiercely with up-and-coming female driver Megan Bruce, leaving his move for the lead until the final lap at the last chicane, where he snatched victory in a thrilling finish. Race 2 saw a continuation of this battle, but after losing the tow, Jamie had to settle for fifth position.

Darren Butler’s weekend got off to a rough start when his gear knob snapped during qualifying, forcing him to miss most of the session and start both races from the back of the grid. Despite this setback, Butler delivered two impressive drives, fighting his way through the pack and showing remarkable determination. Sean Cronin also had a promising start to the weekend, putting in solid performances in the 135 Class. Unfortunately, Race 2 saw him involved in an accident at the start, forcing him to retire early with a DNF. However, the team remains optimistic, and Cronin’s car will be repaired over the winter, ready for a strong comeback next season.

As the season draws to a close, Alpha 7 is already looking ahead to 2025 with exciting driver announcements and new plans on the horizon. The team will celebrate their season’s achievements at the upcoming CGRC awards dinner in November, where Alpha 7 drivers will be vying for various seasonal honours.

It’s been a fantastic season for Alpha 7 Motorsport, and all involved are eager to carry this momentum into the next year.