Brexit: EU citizens reminded to apply to settlement scheme & Bridgend Businesses Reminded to Prepare
EU citizens reminded to apply to settlement scheme
EU citizens living in Bridgend county borough are being reminded that they must apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living and working in the UK.
It’s free to apply to the scheme and you should complete your application by 30 June, 2021.
If successful, you will be granted ‘Settled’ or ‘Pre-Settled’ status depending on how long you have lived here.
A report recently presented to Bridgend County Borough Council’s Equalities Cabinet Committee said that more than 4 million applications had been made to the EU Settlement Scheme from across the UK by the end of September.
Council leader Huw David said: “If you are an EU citizen who has made your home here in Bridgend and are contributing to the life of the county borough, we want you and your family to be able to continue to live, work and access services here after Brexit.
“So far, 1,730 EU Settlement Scheme applications have been concluded in Bridgend county borough, enabling local residents, originally from countries like Poland, Italy, Germany, Romania and Sweden to remain here as part of our communities.”
The report also showed that within the council, 14 languages are spoken amongst the workforce, not including Welsh and English.
If you need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, you won’t be notified by the Home Office, UK/Welsh Government or the council. You can check for yourself on the UK Government’s EU Settlement Scheme webpage.
If you need to apply, each family member must complete an application. This includes children and anyone under the age of 21.
For more information about how you can apply, visit Bridgend County Borough Council’s Preparing for Brexit webpage.
Businesses urged to ensure they are prepared for Brexit
Businesses in Bridgend county borough are being urged to ensure they are prepared for Brexit.
For businesses and citizens there will be new rules from January 1, 2021 as the Brexit transition period ends.
The UK Government has set up an online checker questionnaire for businesses to receive an immediate personalised list of actions.
Complete the Check, Change, Go checker
Bridgend County Borough Council leader Huw David said: “Despite the lack of clarity around a Brexit deal there is still certain things businesses can do by taking that first step and checking their supply chain and asking their supplier to do the same.
“Advice and support is available both at a local authority and government level.”
To find out what you need to do to prepare your business during the transition period visit the UK Government website.
It’s important for businesses and residents to act if you’re:
- importing goods from the EU
- exporting goods to the EU
- moving goods to or from Northern Ireland
- travelling to the EU
- living and working in the EU
- staying in the UK if you’re an EU citizen
The Business Wales Brexit Portal provides updates and links to information and actions to help businesses think about what they need to do to prepare for future changes.
Business Wales offers a single point of contact for businesses and entrepreneurs to advice and support from public, private and voluntary sectors. For further information visit the Brexit Portal or call 0300 060 3000.
