Whilst the government's attention has focussed on our nation's response to the coronavirus pandemic and our recovery to get the economy going again, we've still been preparing for our final departure from the European Union at the end of the year. On 31st December, the United Kingdom will become a sovereign nation again for the first time in nearly fifty years.
We have today launched a new campaign – ‘The UK’s new start: let’s get going’ – to help businesses and individuals prepare for the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020, ensuring they are ready to seize the opportunities that it will bring.
While we have already made great progress in getting ready for this moment, there are actions that businesses and citizens must take now to ensure we are ready to hit the ground running as a fully independent United Kingdom. We are launching new campaign advertisements from today across a range of channels such as TV and radio, including our ‘Check, Change, Go’ strapline which directs people and businesses to a straightforward checker tool so that they can identify the next steps they need to take. The campaign will also see the launch of a field force team which will give one-to-one support in person or over the phone to businesses and their supply chains. This builds on yesterday’s announcement of an unprecedented £705 million borders package to create jobs, improve technology and ensure we are ready for the end of the transition period.
Leaving the EU will unleash significant opportunities for businesses and individuals – including for exporters through new free trade agreements, for small businesses through smarter regulation, and for fishermen as we take back control of our coastal waters – and we want to ensure they are ready to hit the ground running as a fully independent United Kingdom.