Decision details

Appointment of E/booster Ltd, trading as ResilienceHelp.com, to provide practical Brexit support to Haringey companies for Phase One (Mid-December 2020 to January 2020) for a sum of £9,240 (excluding VAT).

• The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020 and although the transition period ends on 31 December 2020, businesses have concerns that they are not sufficiently prepared to meet the challenges that Brexit presents.

• Brexit is a highly complex topic for businesses to adapt to, and made more even difficult with the current Covid 19 pandemic and the uncertainties of an inconclusive trade deal with the EU (as at 4th December 2020).

• Regardless, businesses need to mitigate the potential impact of Brexit by planning and preparing for their survival and long-term growth.

• Through our direct telephone engagement work on the industrial estates companies, we have found they have largely not undertaken early research steps required to prepare for the end of the Brexit transition period, and even those that have begun to prepare (mostly the larger ones) , are not able to fully appreciate the scope of work/response required.

• As many previously viable businesses are already struggling to survive the economic shock caused by Covid, most of the smaller businesses (that make up 90% of the Haringey economy) simply do not know what to plan for and unlike large companies, they do not have the expertise and resources available to plan for multiple scenarios.

• To address this issue in a meaningful and practical way, the appointment of a Brexit Advisor is sought to provide: expert 1-to-1 support and demand-led webinars determined by feedback received from undertaking a survey. These activities are to complement the more generalised information and support offered by government and other local business support agencies.

• The proposed Brexit business support is in two phases. The First Phase – Mid-December 2020 to January 2020 - is to respond to businesses that presently have clear idea of issues facing them. The Second Phase is from February 2021 onwards, when the realities of Brexit become more defined once the UK has fully left the EU. Approval is sought for Phase One.

• There is urgency in seeking appointment of the Brexit advisers due to the rapidly diminishing time left to help local companies, following an outcome of the Brexit negotiations and the Xmas season.

• The appointment of the Brexit consultant for Phase One is based on their track record of supporting companies on Brexit matters, having been previously appointed by the GLA through their stringent procurement processes. (A significant part of the Brexit material being made available by the London Business Hub, was devised by the proposed consultant).

• This Brexit support work for businesses is deemed an important priority by the Council.

• There is no expertise or capacity in the Council to provide such a service.

• There is currently no such programme or service aimed at providing practical 1 to 1 business advice and counselling on Brexit specific matters.

• Portals and website information are general in nature and do not provide for dealing with the specificities and complexities that Brexit presents. A designated Brexit expert would provide steer and assurance especially at a time when there will be new trading regulations being released and challenges of Covid are yet to be overcome.

• To do nothing will result in number of companies potentially not being able to sustain themselves, with loss of jobs and other benefits to the local economy, especially as the national economy is going to be plagued by the onslaught of Covid for the foreseeable months ahead.

• Approval is sought to appoint of E/booster Ltd, trading as ResilienceHelp.com for the first phase (Mid December 2020 to January 2021). The second phase from February 2021 onwards will be subject to ascertaining demand from businesses. If there is a demand, the normal procurement processes of the Council will be applied.