Decision Maker: Head of Programme Management
Decision status: For Determination
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
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.
Publication date: 07/01/2021
Date of decision: 16/12/2020