THE UK Government has today launched Whitehall’s biggest ever public information campaign, “Get Ready for Brexit,” to prepare the public and businesses for Britain’s departure from the EU set for October 31.
The campaign, estimated to cost £100 million, will run across television, social media, billboards and other platforms. Road-shows and other events will also take place.
It has come about following a promise to enact such a campaign made by Boris Johnson during the Conservative leadership election.
The Cabinet Office, headed by Michael Gove, pointed out that research showed only half the population thought it likely the UK would leave the EU on the scheduled date of Hallowe’en, that 42 per cent of small-to-medium sized businesses were unsure of how they could get ready and just 31 per cent of the British public had looked for information on how to prepare for Brexit.
It said: “The campaign will tackle this head on by setting out what all members of the public and business owners might need to do, if anything, to get ready to leave the EU on October 31.”
Mr Gove added: “Ensuring an orderly Brexit is not only a matter of national importance but a shared responsibility. This campaign will encourage the country to come together to Get Ready for Brexit on October 31.”
The Cabinet Office explained that not only UK citizens intending to travel to Europe and all exporters to the EU would be targeted but also groups requiring particular information such as the equine industry and legal professions.
Key actions include:
*acquiring an Economic Operator Registration and Identification number to export to the EU - businesses that are VAT registered will automatically be issued an EORI number but micro businesses still need to register themselves;
*obtaining the correct documents to transport goods at the border and
*applying for the vital support packages available for businesses such as grants.
The Cabinet Office said advertising accompanied with targeted road-shows and events would drive people to GOV.UK, which has a new checker tool so audiences can identify what they need to do to get ready for Brexit quickly.
It added that there would be “how to” videos and step by step guides, so that actions people needed to take to prepare would be “clear and simple”.
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