A recent FT article highlighted that industry groups have warned that Britain’s supply chains are at severe risk of disruption from new post-Brexit rules unless urgent action is taken by ministers. With the end of the Brexit transition period in sight (December 31<sup>st</sup>), forecasts suggest there will be a huge challenge facing the industry, owing to gaps in the government’s efforts to provide a functional cross-border trade system.
With over 10,000 trucks passing through British ports each day, the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance of a free-flowing Supply Chain. Industrial groups have mentioned that should there be a second spike in COVID-19 cases, the government needs to make sure that these supply chains are protected, to ensure the flow of food, pharmaceutical and medical supplies to the UK.
It seems that at best the government has been far too slow in acting to make sure that there are tried and tested measures in place that will be ready and robust come Jan 1<sup>st</sup>, 2021. This is evidenced in the fact that there are now up to 10 new systems that haulage and freight forwarders will have to navigate, including three that are still being designed today!
Overall, many businesses have been preparing to future-proof their supply chain in response to Brexit. But the global disruption caused by COVID-19 has brought some of the anticipated challenges far quicker to their doorstep than expected.
The Supply Chain team here at Norman Broadbent works with our clients across a range of sectors to help them plan and future-proof their Supply Chain organisations. One factor that has become increasingly clear is that accessing the data clients need to fully understand their internal and external supply chain is harder than they expected. Businesses are facing many varying challenges at present, which range from changes in demand (depending on industry sector), the availability of experienced and well-heeled labour, to the cost-based challenges, all of which will continue to gain further complexity as these Brexit negotiations continue.
We are also talking to our clients about the ways we can assist them not only across specific and business critical hiring, but also in the short-term, via Norman Broadbent Interim. In addition, we are also able to help them assess the internal capabilities that they have in place today through our Leadership Consulting business. These services allow us to be uniquely placed to collaborate effectively with our clients and be additive through what will no doubt continue to be a very turbulent time.
If you would like to discuss this article, market trends more generally, or to have a confidential discussion about your own hiring challenges and plans, please do not hesitate to contact James Peskett via james.peskett@normanbroadbent.com or +44 (0)7483 015 600