Last weekend saw the announcement of EU leaders approving the agreement on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.

The announcement marks the end of the negotiations which began in March last year, but the Withdrawal Agreement still needs to be approved by a parliamentary vote expected to take place on Tuesday, December 11.

Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce has been working closely with the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) to ensure Members have access to resources to help businesses prepare for the change and ongoing uncertainty.

While many companies are already planning for the challenges and opportunities ahead, Chambers of Commerce believe that all firms – not just those directly and immediately affected – should be undertaking a Brexit “Health Check” and a broader test of existing business plans.

The final settlement remains to be agreed within the UK government and the BCC have circulated a Business Brexit Checklist that will help companies plan at both operational and Board level.

In addition to the Brexit Checklist, the local business community also has access to a risk assessment for firms of every size and sector to use in order to gain clarity, make decisions, invest and prepare for the future. Both the Brexit Checklist and risk assessment can be found online at www.bit.ly/BCCBrexitSupport.

I’d like to encourage Members of Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce to contact our Policy department, on policy@hwchamber.co.uk, to have their say on the recent announcements and Withdrawal Agreement.

The Chamber is collating Member feedback to send to the BCC to help advise how companies across the country feel about the latest Brexit updates. Additionally, Members can also access a useful Withdrawal Agreement FAQ to ensure they are kept up to date with factors that may affect their business.

The Chamber will continue to update the local business community with resources available on our website at hwchamber.co.uk