The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Brexit monster hammers home how firms must act
The Dutch government has enlisted a new ally in its campaign to prepare businesses for Britain’s departure from the European Union – a hairy, blue Brexit monster.
A tweet posted on foreign minister Stef Blok’s Twitter feed showed the monster, wearing a white T-shirt emblazoned with the word Brexit in red capital letters, lying on a desk.
The tweet has links to the government’s online Brexit portal and a Brexit Impact Scan to inform businesses about the possible consequences when Britain leaves the EU on March 29.
“This is all to raise awareness,” said foreign ministry spokesman DirkJan Vermeij. “We have said this a lot in debates and now we are saying it with humour.”
The monster quickly scared up plenty of action.
Mr Vermeij said that by mid-afternoon yesterday some 4,000 businesses had taken the impact scan.
Prior to the monster’s introduction the scan attracted 63,000 firms in a year.
The online scan website takes business owners through the range of possible changes they must master depending on the terms under which Britain completes its EU withdrawal.
It gives tailored advice on new procedures likely to come into play for importers and exporters like customs procedures, possible new tariffs and taxes and other issues.