The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessment) mark is the new UK product marking that will be required for certain products being placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). It covers most products that previously required the CE mark.

Government departments continue to host regular information sessions for all sectors of industry.

The SME Brexit Support Fund could give you up to £2,000 to help with training or professional advice, if your business has up to 500 employees and no more than £100 million annual turnover.

The BPMA are pleased to announce an exclusive BPMA member only webinar focusing on the new product legislation UKCA and NICA, in partnership with BSI.

Following a question raised in House of Commons in February via MP Andrew Lewer, the BPMA has secured an audience with the Minister of Export to discuss export challenges for SMEs in our industry.

Following the upheaval in recent weeks, The Institute of Export & International Trade have developed a new service to support those businesses who need to trade outside the UK.

The BPMA is collating an industry wide survey for HM Government on the impact on SME’s post end of Transition.

With pledges of continued and tailored support for the sector, the close working relationship with Government team, the Business Energy & Industrial Strategy team (BEIS) are seeking further updates on earlier reactions to the end of Transition.

With significant impact to businesses during the period, early reports indicated some 56% of clients are confused by the rules and this is impacting on current and future orders. Whilst 41% are hopeful the situation will improve, 60% expect Government to make the situation simpler to understand working with industry partners to communicate clarity.

Government teams are looking for regular information to help them shape the services the private sector needs; this important survey will inform the rapid support promised and clarity for the promotional merchandise sector.

This latest survey is open to the whole industry and we urge every promotional merchandise company to take part. Views will be shared on the BPMA / Sourcing City webinar on 25^th February.

To take part in the survey, click here.

Like to register for the webinar on 25^th February? To register, please follow the link here.

January 2021 will go down in history as the month Transition ended with a big bang.

BPMA work closely with The Institute of Export & International Trade and are delighted to announce a special session for BPMA members on Monday 1^st February with regular BPMA speaker, Kevin Shakespeare.

2021 has had a tough start; lockdown and the end of the Brexit Transition period signalled a far more challenging January than anyone would have ever anticipated.

Producing over 20% of the world’s cotton, China is under the spotlight this week.

Massive disruption hit our ports over a month ago; a perfect storm of Covid and staff shortages.

With complex new rules and procedures, it is important to gain skills and knowledge within your business to ensure you are ready to fulfil the all-important orders your company has secured. The good news is that funding is available to help.

With much of the UK falling into its new tier system to protect ourselves against Covid-19, the news also reported back on Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s latest statement that no deal could be reached with our 27 European counter parts.

While PM Johnson has been upbeat about the prospects for a good deal, critics have questioned whether such a complex agreement can be concluded before the end of the year. The UK has said it will not extend negotiations beyond the end of 2020, so there is still a chance that the UK could end up with no deal.

As such, businesses have to remain alert to the twists and turns of the ongoing Brexit tale. As part of its continuing support for members, the BPMA has prepared a downloadable guide to Brexit. Here are a few areas to consider.

The UK seems to have avoided a no-deal Brexit, for now at least, but for businesses, the uncertainty does not go away. A Brexit Summit organised at breakneck speed by the BPMA sought to throw some clarity on how companies could get ready for a no-deal Brexit.

With Brexit creating uncertainty and confusion about import-export changes, our members contact us regularly to seek confirmation and clarity and it was clear that training and development on Brexit readiness was required.