The Windsor Framework – have you read this?!
At Smart Directions, we’re keen to help our customers to look ahead and prepare their businesses for trade in September and the new Windsor Framework. Hang on chaps, we haven’t even had a summer yet! Well this is pretty important, so you’ll have to forgive us for packing away the deckchairs early! From September 2024, Read More
Motorists could be allowed to drive lorries without an HGV licence
Could motorists being allowed to drive an HGV without an additional test alleviate the lorry driver shortage? That’s the question being asked by the UK government. Before 1997, anyone with a car licence (category B) also got automatic category C1 entitlement meaning they could drive a lorry up to 7.5 tonnes. This was known as Read More
5 Headache-causing Challenges Facing the Third-party Logistics Industry (3PL)
It is virtually impossible to write an article about the third-party logistics industry today without mentioning Brexit or Covid. You don’t need us to tell you how hectic the last few years have been for businesses in the UK. Every industry is facing challenges, so it’s hardly surprising that the 3PL sector is experiencing its Read More
E-commerce and Brexit – taxes, rules, and regulations
What you’ll learn What the new VAT rules for e-commerce sellers are How to best prepare for the latest customs regulations The health and safety impact What to tell your customers Brexit continues to have an enormous impact on UK businesses, especially for those involved in e-commerce. For e-commerce sellers, it means more bureaucracy and Read More
ICS2 is here – are you complying?
Brexit has brought with it numerous changes that we’ve all had to get used to. Some for the better, others – well, the jury’s still out. But, regardless of your feelings for the ‘new normal’, it’s here to stay, as well as ICS2 (Import Control System 2). Over the coming months and years, we’re going Read More
We Need to Talk About Trading with Northern Ireland
Mention trading with Northern Ireland, customs, or VAT in one sentence to a UK business owner, and they’re likely to break out into a cold sweat. Brexit was never going to be a smooth ride, but businesses are floundering when dealing with the enigma that is Northern Ireland. It may be part of the UK, Read More
COVID Wreaks Havoc with UK Parcel Deliveries
If it’s not Brexit, it’s COVID causing problems for the post and parcel delivery services. It’s easy to forget that the postal service relies on people, so it’s hardly surprising that the rising COVID cases and sickness levels have impacted its service. In January, Royal Mail listed 28 areas of the UK that could experience Read More
Businesses Fall Foul of Brexit’s Rule of Origin Chaos
Boris pulled off what many thought was impossible – a “tariff-free” Brexit. The business world rejoiced as the future began to look brighter. But then January 2021 arrived and with it the realisation that things weren’t quite as hunky-dory as they first appeared. During the Brexit talks, many trade experts and economists warned that a Read More
Brexit Causes Percy Pig Shortage and Border Delays
Who guessed that Boris would pull a deal out of the bag at the eleventh hour to finish what he started? Of course, nothing is ever that straightforward. When is a ‘tariff-free’ deal not tariff-free? When Boris emerged, bleary-eyed from his last-minute negotiations to announce he’d achieved the impossible and got the UK a tariff-free Read More
Brexit Will Impact Your Logistics – Are You Ready?
Brexit is the six-letter word that strikes fear and uncertainty in the heart of all UK citizens and business owners. We’d love to give you a definitive rundown of how the changes will affect your logistics needs, but because we don’t have a crystal ball, we can’t. What we can do is run through a Read More
Deal or No-Deal Brexit: The Build Up to 2021
Brexit is rapidly becoming more and more of a reality, with less than 100 days to go until the transition period comes to an end on 31 December 2020. But, to a large degree, Brexit hasn’t been on people’s minds quite like in recent years. Obviously, Covid-19 has been the pressing focus of the UK Read More
The Brexit Latest – The UK’s Approach for 2020 and Beyond
A lot has already happened in 2020 in regard to Brexit and the new transition period as well as the UK Government’s approach to future negotiations. There is, unfortunately, still a reasonable amount of uncertainty for businesses, but at least a workable path forward is starting to form. For the majority of businesses across the Read More
UK Exports Hit Record Levels in 2018/2019
Is your business prepared to deal with the increasing competition for haulage experts dealing with UK exports? Learn more with Smart Directions. According to the recent UK exports statistics released from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) on 10th May, UK firms have exceeded expectations by producing a record-breaking year in overseas sales for the Read More
Brexit Extension – What it Means for International Trade
In response to the UK Government’s request for a Brexit Extension, the 27 members of the EU have agreed as it’s clearly unfeasible to reach a satisfactory conclusion by March 29. Now, if UK Prime Minister Theresa May is able to get parliament to agree to her withdrawal agreement, she’ll be granted an extension to Read More
Brexit News and The UK Government’s Latest advice
3 Measures Your Business Needs to Action In a December Brexit news communication from HMRC’s Deputy Chief Executive, Jim Hara, it’s been made explicitly clear that the UK will be leaving the European Union at 11pm on 29 March 2019. While this shouldn’t come as a terrible surprise, businesses have been left in a great Read More