Unlimited access to HR business advice line, over 400 free downloadable employment documents and £1m of excess free insurance.

HR Advice Line

Unlimited access* to experienced HR advisors. Available 24/7, 365 days a year.

The advice lines are here to help you… and not just if you have a serious problem or issue. They can help you with any questions that you may have, whether they be positive or negative. 

HR Website

Over 400 free downloadable employment documents.

One of the main features of the website is the comprehensive document library, which includes documents such as:

• Recruitment & Selection
• Induction & probation
• Contracts of Employment
• Employee Handbook
• Plus many more

HR Insurance

Cover for employee disputes including representation costs and awards. Up to £100,000 per claim and £1,000,000 in the annual aggregate.

*unlimited access is subject to a fair use policy.

What our members say...

Unlimited access to legal business advice line, over 175 free downloadable legal documents and £1m of excess free insurance.

Legal Advice Line

Unlimited access* to experienced legal advisors. Available 24/7, 365 days a year.

The advice lines are here to help you… and not just if you have a serious problem or issue. They can help you with any questions that you may have, whether they be positive or negative.

Legal Website

Over 175 free downloadable legal documents for a business.

One of the main features of the website is the comprehensive document library, which includes documents such as:

• Checklists & documents
• Company law
• Debt recovery
• Insurance
• Intellectual property
• Plus more

Legal Insurance

The Chamber Commercial Legal Expenses Insurance policy provides cover for a wide range of legal disputes that may affect members. The policy provides cover for the member’s business in matters including employment disputes, tax investigations and property disputes; and cover for the member’s employees in personal injury claims and motor disputes.

Areas of Cover

• Employment Disputes - Representation costs and awards of compensation incurred in defence of a dispute with an employee.
• Health & Safety Prosecutions - Costs in defending a health and safety criminal prosecution.
• Tax Protection - To deal with a HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) full enquiry.
• Criminal Prosecution Defence - To defend legal proceedings in a Court of criminal jurisdiction.
• Statutory License Protection - For an appeal or representation to the relevant authority.
• Jury Service Allowance - The cost of the insured’s salary or an employee’s salary for any period for which the insured or their employees are obliged to attend Court for jury service.
• Property Disputes - Any dispute or legal proceedings, including those relating to the physical possession of the property.
• Data Protection - To defend civil proceedings for compensation under Section 13 of the Data Protection Act 1998
• Personal Injury - Legal proceedings to recover damages for the death of or bodily injury sustained by a director or employee.
• Motor Disputes - The pursuit or defence of legal proceedings between an insured and a customer/supplier relating to the hire, purchase, lease, service, repair or test of a motor vehicle; or to recover damages for personal injury sustained by a director or employee in a road traffic accident.
• Wrongful Arrest Defence - To defend civil proceedings against the insured in relation to allegations of wrongful arrest or malicious prosecution.

Level of Cover

In the event of a claim, your case will be handled by Qdos Broker & Underwriting Services Ltd with the legal advice and representation being provided, in house, by Qdos Legal Services Ltd. You will be covered up to £100,000 (for any one claim) and £1,000,000 aggregate limit (all claims notified in any one period of insurance). Jury Service is subject to a maximum limit of £100 per day, £1,000 per claim.

There is Nil excess applicable to the policy.

Additional terms and conditions apply. A copy of the full policy wording and key facts document are available from the Chamber.

*unlimited access is subject to a fair use policy.

Unlimited access to health and safety business advice line, over 130 free downloadable health and safety documents and £1m of excess free insurance.

Health and Safety Advice Line

Unlimited access* to experienced health & safety specialist advisors, available during office hours.

The advice lines are here to help you… and not just if you have a serious problem or issue. They can help you with any questions that you may have, whether they be positive or negative. 

Health and Safety Website

Over 130 free downloadable health and safety documents.

One of the main features of the website is the comprehensive document library, which includes documents such as:

• Getting started in H&S
• Developing a H&S policy
• First aid and RIDDOR
• Risk assessments and audits
• Plus more

Health and Safety Insurance

Cover to help you defend health & safety prosecutions. Up to £100,000 per claim and £1,000,000 in the annual aggregate.

*unlimited access is subject to a fair use policy.

Unlimited access to experienced tax and VAT advisors and £1m of excess free insurance.

Tax and VAT Advice Line

Unlimited access* to experienced tax and VAT advisors. Available during office hours.

The advice lines are here to help you… and not just if you have a serious problem or issue. They can help you with any questions that you may have, whether they be positive or negative.

Tax and VAT Insurance

Cover to deal with a full HMRC enquiry, aspect enquiries, PAYE disputes and VAT disputes. Up to £100,000 per claim and £1,000,000 in the annual aggregate.

*unlimited access is subject to a fair use policy.

Access the Member Hub to download several useful documents containing further information. 

Do you pay technical staff to solve technical problems, perhaps developing new or improved processes, products or software?

If so, Sheffield Chamber can help you claim R&D tax credits from HMRC, which give tax savings for innovating. The savings are significant - usually equivalent to around a quarter of the amount you’ve actually spent.

Eligible companies can obtain tax relief on qualifying expenditure either by reducing taxable profits or creating (or increasing) tax losses which can be sacrificed to HMRC in return for a cash repayment.

The relief available is very generous and an SME incurring £100k of qualifying costs could save in the region of £25k in tax. Claims can go back two financial years, so first-time claimants can particularly benefit.

Projects qualifying for R&D relief include those seeking an appreciable improvement in science or technology.

So, if you are paying people to solve technical problems there may be scope to claim if you are:

• Modifying a manufacturing process
• Developing bespoke software
• Creating a new product or improving an existing one

If you think your company might be eligible to make a claim, Sheffield Chamber has partnered with Radius at Shorts Chartered Accountants.

The Radius team make the claims process simple. Their approach focusses on quickly and concisely assessing your potential eligibility before completing the process on your behalf. Radius employ an ex-HMRC Inspector to ensure that all claims are fully compliant before submission. This process is highly successful and has saved clients millions of pounds in tax savings across a wide spectrum of industries.

Shorts’ Radius team apply a simple three stage approach to prepare a robust claim that maximises the tax relief available:

1. Initial Discussion

30-60 minutes, either in person or over the phone to explore whether a claim is possible.

2. Technical Meeting

Radius will meet with you to identify qualifying projects and costs to include in the claim.

3. Produce Claim Documents

Radius will work with you to maximise the claim within the scope of the legislation. We produce the technical report and a summary of qualifying costs that is required to support a claim.

You review it and when you’re happy, we’ll submit the whole claim to HMRC for you.

You'll then receive your tax savings from HMRC - up to a quarter of the amount you've actually spent on innovating.

To check your eligibility and access the service, visit our R&D hub.

Click here to check your eligibility 

Credit Check your customers and suppliers with Experian Business Express credit reports.

Sheffield Chamber members/customers are entitled to a Free Trial and 50% discount on the product subscription.

Experian Business Express has one of the most predictive scoring models in the industry, which lets you easily determine the creditworthiness of your business’s customers and suppliers. Based on Experian's scoring model, Business Express can help you predict business credit risks and failures within the next 12 months.

Once set up, you'll have immediate access to all the data you need to make the right decisions for your business. Our commercial credit reports provide the most complete and in-depth analysis of a business' credit information.

Features include

• Business information including credit scores and limits
• 3 years account summary
• CCJ information over the last 6 years
• Basic monitoring service
• Non limited business reports
• Parent and ultimate holding companies
• Directors and links to other business interests including shareholders
• 3 years’ worth of full financial information
• Payment data for Limited and Non-Limited businesses
• Ownership - Group structure, shareholders & director search facility

Through Chamber Membership receive a free trial and 50% off subscription.

Instantly credit check a UK business online.

Sheffield Chamber members or customers are entitled to 50% discount on one off UK credit checks.

Experian business credit reports enable you to instantly check a company online, allowing you to make quick and informed decisions about potential customers and suppliers. Single business credit reports give you quick and simple access to online business reports and directors information.

Know who you’re dealing with

• By checking your customers
• By checking the people behind a business
• By checking your suppliers

Get paid on time

• By knowing if a company is financially stable
• By seeing a company's credit rating
• By finding out how quickly a business pays its invoices

See how banks & suppliers view your Limited Company credit score with My Business Profile from Experian.

Includes a 90-day free trial followed by a discounted subscription for Sheffield Chamber members and customers off £12.50 + Vat per month (50% discount) for continued usage. Cancel at any time.

Check and improve your business credit score

Being denied company credit can be bad news for your business, especially if you need finance to grow.

If your business has been refused credit or struggled to secure new finance, you’ll know how that can impact your plans. But is relying on your personal finances really the answer?

With My Business Profile, you get full visibility of your business credit profile, enabling you to understand what’s affecting your company credit score and preventing you from being able to obtain that all important company finance.

How does My Business Profile help?

• Find out the top 5 factors influencing your score
  Give yourself the best chance when applying for business credit, by working on the areas that are affecting your score
• See what lenders see when making credit decisions about your business
  This is one of the only reports of its type to include commercial CAIS data, making it the most accurate and fully comprehensive view of your own business credit profile
• Automatic Alerts
  Receive alerts about significant changes, so you can act quickly to reduce any negative impacts to your score
• Customer Support
  On-going advice and support to help make your business credit score the best it can be

Chamber members can receive a 90-day free trial followed by a discounted subscription of £12.50 + Vat per month (50% discount) for continued usage. Cancel at any time.

Experian’s International Business Credit Reports help you ease concerns, make informed risk assessments, and manage business risk. Access to global business information means you can maximise every opportunity to your business.

• Confirm core company information, such as registered address
• Accurately assess the risk of engaging in international business
• Reduce exposure to bad debt by accessing a company’s accounts
• Understand any adverse activity about a company such as CCJs

Credit Check your customers and suppliers with Experian Business Express credit reports.

Through the Chamber membership receive up to a 60% discount (dependant on country) on our International Credit Reports Service via our PAYG Credit Reports product.

As you are probably aware, employers are bound under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Reg 7) to have an adequate number of 'competent persons', who will assist the employer to comply with obligations under all H&S legislation.

This regulation also requires the employer to make arrangements between competent persons to ensure adequate co-operation between them, to provide the facilities they need to carry out their functions, and specified health and safety information.

In the event that you do not have a competent person then we are able to provide you with a Health and Safety Advisor.

Over a minimum of a 12 month period Sheffield Chamber can provide:

• Named competent person
• Health and Safety Advisor Certificate
• Update existing health and safety policy
• E-mail facility for H&S questions
• Telephone helpline
• Two health and safety audits with a full report prepared on each occasion in the 12 month contract period
• Access to additional free chamber health and safety services and documents
• Assistance with sourcing training courses highlighted by the recommendations from the HSAS audit
• Discounted rates on all training from Sheffield Chamber for HSAS contract holders
• Emergency assistance to include onsite visit/s is required (limitations apply)

The new fire safety legislation “The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005” came into force on 1st October 2006. The purpose of the legislation is to rationalise the existing regulations to provide a fully risk-based approach to how organisations discharge their responsibilities for fire safety. The main change as far as the majority of organisations are concerned is that a Fire Certificate is no longer required. The system will now be risk based and be the responsibility of the nominated “responsible person”.

Sheffield Chamber has the competency within its commercial health and safety advisory service to give your company peace of mind that you are covering all aspects of the legislation.

The Members Directory is an easy-to-navigate database for Chamber members to identify fellow members for collaborative business opportunities. It features the ability to privately message other businesses you wish to connect and do business with. You can also see what upcoming events other fellow members are attending, in case you would like to organise a face-to-face meeting.

Each member of Sheffield Chamber has its own dedicated profile. Here you can upload your company logo, contact details and business description, including products and services. This acts as a great tool to showcase who you are and what you do to the other businesses within membership.

Digital and Print Directory

A listing of your company will be included in the City Region Business Directory. This is sent to every member on an annual basis.

Members may also request a copy of our membership database which includes a primary contact name, telephone number, company description and address.

This database is invaluable if you are a business looking to expand your profile in the city.

With all levels of membership comes access to a suite of bespoke services. Via the Member Hub you can see what services are available to you, and most importantly, how to access them.

Whether you need the number for our dedicated HR advice line or a discount code for AA breakdown, all information can be accessed via the hub.

Each member of the Chamber has its own dedicated profile, containing information bespoke to them and their level of membership. You can login to the hub to see what level of membership you are on and the services available to you, how long until your renewal date and who your dedicated Account Manager is (you can even message them directly).

You also have the ability to tailor your bespoke information feed to your personal interests and requirements. Not interested in attending black tie dinners or news about manufacturing? Not a problem, you can customise your content to only show through the information you want to receive. This also goes for your email preferences; via the hub you have the ability to choose what information you would like to receive.

Principle users also have the ability to add more users to your account (who can also set up their own tailored content). For example, this is perfect if you have a dedicated member of staff who manages your business news or a member of staff who attends events. Via the hub, you can set up an additional accounts for staff members who manage different areas of your business.

As a membership organisation representing and working with 1,000 businesses, we have an extremely active website, regularly visited by thousands of business people in and outside the region on a monthly basis.

Subject to your membership level, you can upload your own event, news, offer or opportunity to the Sheffield Chamber website and utilise our digital reach for your own gain. This can all be done online, via the Member Hub.

One of our most popular benefits of membership is access to discounted training and events. When you are logged into the Member Hub, those discounts are automatically applied to the level of membership you are signed into. Simply login and purchase your ticket.

The Member Hub will record your future (and past) bookings and give you the ability to add them to your calendar.

Experian B2B Prospector helps you find new customers fast. Your small business marketing relies on up-to-date business marketing data. Knowing that your data is segmented and targeted to your most profitable business prospects means you can lower your marketing costs and conduct your sales campaigns with confidence.

Sheffield Chamber members or customers are entitled to a 30% off any purchases made.

Choose exactly the kind of businesses you’re looking for, review them before you buy and start contacting them immediately – by email, phone or through the post.

Build a list of your ideal prospects with Experian B2B Prospector

• Over 5.3 million UK businesses with names, postal addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses
• Segment, target and tailor your list by geography, business type, turnover, number of employees and many more
• Set a specific number of contacts to suit your budget.
• Free Data Validator to ensure you fulfil your GDPR obligations by checking data you have purchased from Experian’s B2B Prospector

Enhance data you have by adding up to 60 data variables to help you get better insight and help segment your existing portfolio. Also provides a FREE data profile report.

Sheffield Chamber members can receive 30% off UK business marketing data lists + data Enhancement, with no minimum spend.

Exclusively available to BCC accredited and affiliated member organisations of all sizes, the Chamber Primary Health Plan starts from just £6.13 per employee, per month and allows staff to claim money back, up to set limits, for things like sight tests and glasses, dental bills, therapy treatments and consultations. The plan also provides access to health and wellbeing services including:

• DoctorLine™ service providing policyholders with confidential telephone access to a practising UK GP or clinical pharmacist, 24 hours a day – every day, from anywhere in the world, with optional webcam consultations
• Best Doctors® - expert second medical opinion service
• Scanning Service - MRI, CT and PET scans
• 24hr Advice and Information Line and up to 6 structured counselling sessions
• Plus much more...

View the full benefit table and pricing here

To access this service, call Sheffield Chamber on 0114 201 8888 or email membership@scci.org.uk.

A pioneering concept in employee health cover, at a price that really works for your business.

Private Health Insurance makes private surgery and medical treatment more affordable and accessible, so your staff can be treated quicker and back in the workplace far sooner. With two options available, you can choose exactly the right level of cover to suit the needs of your business.

Surgery Choices 1

Key features

• Accessible - quick, easy access to private treatment
• Affordable - private treatment from £6.12 per employee, per month
• Inclusive – no medical required, no excess to pay
• Choice – choose from a wide range of hospitals – private or NHS
• Fair – premiums are community rated so there is one price to pay for all employees regardless of age
  or location
• Simple – setting up a policy is straightforward

Click Here for more information 

Surgery Choices 2

All of the above, plus:

• Wide range of procedures covered
• 12 medical bands and classifications
• Maximum benefit of £250,000 during the lifetime of cover

Click Here for more information 

To access this service, call Sheffield Chamber on 0114 201 8888 or email membership@scci.org.uk.

Choose between two ready-made annual wellbeing engagement programmes depending on whether you prefer an online or an offline solution. Both provide targeted promotions to engage your staff in improving their health and wellbeing. Your Chamber membership gives you access to a 25% discount on the standard pricing for the Health Calendar or The Wellbeing Plan online resource centre.

Health Calendar

For your organisation – engage your people’s interest in their own wellbeing with this ready-made health awareness programme

• An annual programme of ready-made monthly campaign toolkits, for a different popular wellbeing topic each month
• Target your campaigns on the topics that are most relevant to your business
• Each month you’ll receive a communication pack including fact sheets, posters and campaign text – all you have to do is send out the communications

For your people – a valuable and informative wellbeing support service

• Validated materials
• Designed to inform and resource your people and support them in taking action
• Signposting them to free national support agencies for specialist advice and support

Click Here for more information

The Wellbeing Plan Online Resource Centre

• Select your programme from the 16 topics available. Each has a video, podcast, factsheets and personal training plan
• Each month we’ll send you text to announce the topic of the month, along with weekly top-tip messages to keep the campaign alive and drive engagement with the website
• You’ll have access to a real-time dashboard providing engagement statistics
• You can use the website as a resource to support the delivery of your other
• health and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year
• Employees have unlimited access to the website, accessible from work or home

Chamber member offer - receive 25% off the cost of this service!

To access this service, call Sheffield Chamber on 0114 201 8888 or email membership@scci.org.uk.

With our Health and Lifestyle Screening Programme, you can take positive steps to building a healthy company.

You’ll be empowering your staff by giving them the information they need to make informed lifestyle decisions, helping them to be healthier, fitter, more motivated and engaged.

Westfield Health can offer a variety of programmes to suit your business, from a 10 minute MOT check to a 20 minute lifestyle check.

Click here for more information

To access this service, call Sheffield Chamber on 0114 201 8888 or email membership@scci.org.uk.

We all know the importance of physical exercise, but your people’s emotional wellness is just as important. Sometimes they can face issues that not only affect their quality of life, but the quality of their work too.

Healthy Extras is an essential employee benefit, providing people with access to valuable services to help support their emotional wellbeing. Togetherall is the first step that people can take towards getting the support they need, and for those who need it, they can talk to a GP or clinical pharmacist over the phone or via a webcam, and access counselling services too.

Our services give quick and easy access to professional help 24/7, either online or over the phone to help with the pressures of everyday life.

Key features

• Available on a corporate paid basis for companies with 30 or more employees
• Low cost
• Affordable for all budgets
• Four health and wellbeing services
• Registration and access is easy via an online portal
• Services available immediately from the date of registration
• No medical required to join
• Can be used in conjunction with existing healthcare plans 

Click Here for more information on what's included

To access this service, call Sheffield Chamber on 0114 201 8888 or email membership@scci.org.uk.

Running a company with vehicles at its heart means that staying still isn’t an option. The AA’s business breakdown cover will make sure your drivers get back on the road quickly – and with minimum disruption – if the worst happens. All you need to do is choose the right level of cover for you.

Which vehicles can be covered?

Whether you just have a single vehicle or run a whole fleet, the AA can cover your cars, vans, trucks and more – as long as they’re 3.5 tonnes or under. If you’re not sure if your vehicle would be eligible, you can call the AA on 0800 55 11 88 to check.

What does cover include?

You can choose from the following options for your company’s vehicles:

Up to 67% off business breakdown cover for CHAMBER MEMBERS†

Cover from just £48.13 per vehicle, no matter how small your fleet! To access this service, please login to the member hub. 

Professional Energy Purchasing is a local independent Energy Management specialist with over 30 years’ experience in the energy market. They work with all major utility companies in the UK to provide competitive gas, electricity and water prices.

Through this dedicated service, you can receive access to independent energy audits to identify potential savings, helping you to reduce energy and plan for Net Zero climate targets.

What's included?

• Efficiency assessments of operational activity, building optimisation and uses of energy.
• Detailed reporting providing energy reduction proposals, renewable energy supply options, better building optimisation, behavioural change advice, investment costs and ROI payback periods.
• Sourcing and project support for the implementation of renewable energy supply.
• Green energy procurement and energy funding advice.

To access your free initial member consultation, or for more information, please log into the member hub.

Did you know businesses waste on average 20% of the energy they use? This free 10 point guide will help you reduce energy and move towards a net-zero future.

What's included:

• Review of any existing contracts and provision of new options based on market prices and individual business requirements.
• Management of gas and electricity installation, downgrading, relocation, or disconnections.

To access your free initial member consultation, or for more information, please log in to the member hub. 

Fitness Unlimited’s award winning membership provides unlimited access to a wide range of facilities at 7 venues across Sheffield including:

• 7 gyms kitted out with top of the range CV, resistance, free weights and functional training equipment
• 6 unique swimming pools offering lane swimming, general swim, leisure swimming sessions and aqua based fitness classes
• Over 500 fitness classes to choose from each week
• Indoor athletics track used by Olympic athletes
• Health suites including saunas, spas & relaxation areas

Fitness Unlimited is far more than just a gym, it is part of SIV and with a Fitness Unlimited membership you will also enjoy:

• 25% off leisure activities including golf, court hire, ice skating and Altitude High Ropes Adventure at iceSheffield
• 15% off food and drink at all foodetc. cafes in venues

And if that’s not enough for you to hit the ground running, or swimming, or spinning…Chamber of Commerce members receive Fitness Unlimited Corporate discount too! You can choose from two membership options:

• Corporate Tier 2 Access all sites 12-month Direct Debit Membership – £30.40 per month
• Corporate Tier 2 Access all sites 12-month Annual Payment – £330.00 (further 10% discount)

All members automatically get the benefit of the Sheffield LifeCard attached to their account. Sheffield lifeCARD gives significant savings on sport and leisure activities across SIV venues as well as access to some fantastic offers with business partners.

Benefit from and access exclusive discounts and offers submitted by Chamber members.

Whether it be discounted tickets to an event or free support sessions, there is a dedicated offers area in our Member Hub that enables you to access, offer and promote exclusive content to our member community.

Whether it is a job opportunity, a business need or a request for services, use our dedicated member opportunities area on the Chamber website to specifically request information from other businesses within membership.

Sheffield Chamber has partnered with UnLTD Business Magazine to offer members an exclusive magazine advertising service.  

What is unLTD Business Magazine? 

unLTD is a vibrant platform for the modern Sheffield City Region business community. At its heart is a monthly magazine distributed to 5,000 organisations and individuals across the region, underpinned and enhanced by a website updated daily and three social media channels. The content is modern, relevant and focused on the issues that matter to business in the 21st Century. 

Sheffield Chamber Membership Offer 

Growth Members 

• Receive up to 40% discount on any bookings. 

Upgrade to Premium Partner or Patron membership to receive free advertising. Click here for more information. 

For more information, email membership@scci.org.uk or call 0114 201 8888. Terms and conditions apply, please log into the member hub for more information.

For information on technical specifications and standard magazine advertising rates, click here.  

Chamber members have the opportunity to feature their events on our website. This acts as distribution channel for your business to showcase and promote your events and increase subscription rates.

Updated on a daily basis, the news section of the Chambers website showcases the latest goings on in the business community, both in and outside the region.

Sheffield Chamber members have the ability to upload their own business news, giving you an additional avenue to shout about your business activity and success.

The accurate completion of export documentation is vital if charges and delays are to be avoided and shipments are to meet their deadlines. We are authorised to supply export documentation and certify shipments and can help your business through the entire process, from choosing the right documentation to ensuring it is correctly completed.

We act as an issuing body and are authorised by:

• HM government, for the issue of all non-preference UK Certificates of Origin
• HMRC, for preference documents such as UK EUR1’s.
• The Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, to act as agents for the issuing of Arab British Certificates of Origin to the Arab League Nations
• Legalising and Notarising all other Embassy documentation
• Certifying of invoices and other documents requested by customs/customers

UK Certificates of Origin

Exporters are often asked to supply a Certificate of Origin for a variety of reasons; to certify the origin of goods, to support a Letter of Credit, or to satisfy overseas Customs procedures.

Arab-British Certificates of Origin

A customs clearance requirement to evidence the origin of the goods for Arab League States and may also be requested by the importing company.

UK EUR1 Movement Certificate

An UK EUR1 support claims for preferential (usually zero) rates of duty in the country of implementation. To qualify, the goods must ‘originate’ in the UK. The preference system only applies to countries where certain trade agreements exist with the UK.

We can also authenticate signatures on other documents and are able to make arrangements for legal documents to be apostilled or signed by a notary public.

We provide a while-you-wait service on Monday-Friday, 9.00am-11.30am and 2.00pm-4.00pm*.

Chamber members receive up to 50% discount on our trade documentation service.

For more information please contact our team on 0114 201 8888 or email international@scci.org.uk.

* please note an additional reception fee is applicable between 2.00pm-4.00pm

Useful Downloads 

Standard Rules to be Observed by Applicants

Arab Letter of Indemnity

Egyptian Letter of Indemnity

EUR1 Agent Letter of Authorisation

Formal Undertaking for Paper and Electronic Application

E-Z CERT DELEGATED AUTHORITY FORM

eCERT is a service offering which enables exporters to obtain certain certificates online. It can be used to obtain United Kingdom and Arab British Certificates of Origin, and UK EUR1s.

eCERT is also used to certify other commercial documents such as commercial invoices and packing lists and is approved by the British Chambers of Commerce as being compliant with regulations and data security requirements.

Why Use eCERT?

• No need to leave your office, saving valuable time
• Cost effective
• More accurate completion
• No postage charges
• Professional presentation every time
• Fast service
• No retyping of data for similar content

Our Export Office Hub provides a full documentation service. This enables us to manage the full trade facilitation process for you, from placement of order to payment, covering all customs procedures, declarations, freight, logistics and documentation, including letter of credit management (if required).

Register online at www.ecert.sgs.com to apply for documents electronically.

If you require any assistance during the setting up process please contact our team on 0114 201 8888 or email international@scci.org.uk.

During the compliance audit we will get a thorough understanding of your business.

• We can advise you on the specific areas you need to consider to reduce the effect both to your business and that of your customers in Europe.
• Explain the implications of customs procedures and we can calculate the cost to your balance sheet on a month by month and annual basis. We will go through the list of actions that can be introduced to mitigate compliance risk and cost.
• Help you apply for customs systems and approvals to ensure you are using the most efficient practises that are available to limit cost and exposure.
• Discuss the management of the change, your compliance responsibilities and the consequences of ill preparation.

If your business requires an ‘are you prepared’ compliance audit, please get in touch, call 0114 201 8888, or email international@scci.org.uk.

We can complete trade documentation on your company’s behalf, and liaise with any 3rd party, such as freight forwarders, to ensure your goods are delivered.

Sheffield Chamber fully appreciate that some businesses do not always have the time, expertise or confidence to manage their own export processes. We can do this for you, leaving you to focus on making your products and running your business.

Our Export Office Hub service is a specially designed facility that houses a dedicated team of international trade professionals, who are experts in all areas of export/import administration. We can complete trade documentation on your company’s behalf, and liaise with any 3rd party, such as freight forwarders, to ensure your goods are delivered.

All documents, which are prepared with absolute confidence, accuracy and efficiency, can be completed via email, telephone and post, saving you precious time and money.

This service includes:

Including, but not limited to, UK Certificate of Origin, Arab Certificate of Origin, UK EUR1, Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Inspection Report, Bill of Exchange, Dangerous Goods Notes and Standard Shipping Notes.

For more information please contact our team on 0114 201 8888 or email international@scci.org.uk.

A Letter of Credit is a guarantee from a bank that the seller will receive payment from a buyer and can save you time, reduce risk and accelerate payments.

We offer three tiers of service:

Tier 1 - Feasibility Check

It is not uncommon for Issuing Banks to raise non-feasible Letters of Credit. On receipt of the LC, simply email the Letter of Credit to us and we will check it to ensure the conditions can be met by your company, which supporting documents (plus how many copies) are required, how they must be worded to meet LC conditions and make aware of any time limited rules.

• Members price per check: £60+VAT
• Non-member price per check: £120+VAT

Tier 2 – Pre-presentation Check

Prepare and collate all your documentation as per the LC ready for presentation to the bank. We will check through all documentation to ensure everything is in line with the LC and highlight any possible discrepancies/anomalies.

Price to be confirmed subject to number of documents to check.

Tier 3 – Full Management

Sheffield Chamber will deal with your Letter of Credit from the outset. Including liaising with your freight forwarder to make sure the transport documents are correctly prepared, together with any other 3rd party (such as issuing banks and port authorities), as well as generating the remaining documents and presenting them to the bank on your behalf. Should the bank have any queries, we will address them for you.

For more information please contact our team on 0114 201 8888 or email international@scci.org.uk.

Licences are needed for import and export where the ECO (Export Control Organisation) indicates a need for control.

We offer two tiers of service:

Tier 1 – Pre-submission Check

After you have prepared your licence application as per ECO regulations, we will conduct an independent assessment of it prior to the submission to the ECO. We will then arrange to visit you at your premises to go through your application, cross referencing with the end-user undertaking (EUU) form, sales order detail and any other relevant supporting documentation. Here you will be advised of any areas of concern with your application prior to submitting to the ECO.

Tier 2 – Full Management

Sheffield Chamber will support your business through the entire process of successfully achieving your licence. We will check it to ensure its conditions can be met, liaise with your Freight Forwarder to make sure the transport documents are correctly prepared, together with any other third party. We will fulfil the export licence criteria, gathering all the supporting documentation for you and we will tie in other parameters such as Letters of Credit and Certificates of Origin.

Occasionally good are seized by UK border control, invariably this is because they require an export licence. In these cases we can assist with the release of goods.

For further information on Import/Export Licences, please call 0114 201 8888 or email international@scci.org.uk.

Are you importing, exporting, paying for a service abroad or receiving international funding?

Sheffield Chamber have joined forces with leading specialists moneycorp, to offer a dedicated foreign exchange service that provides peace of mind to know your FX needs are in the hands of experts.

Through this partnership, you can access:

• Preferential exchange rates
• Zero international payment fees*
• Free FX audit
• Multiple currency holding accounts when you open your moneycorp account
• A dedicated account manager for expert market guidance and hedging strategy

Sign up for a corporate FX account today

moneycorp have helped more than 14,000 businesses with international payments, risk management solutions and tools to help businesses compete on the global stage. They will ensure your funds get where they need to be on time and help minimise your currency costs.

Sign up for a corporate international payments account today and discover how your business could reduce currency costs and risk in a global marketplace.

Click here to access

Alternatively, call us on 0114 201 8888 or email international@scci.org.uk for more information.

*certain limits may apply

Although currently not mandatory, businesses accredited with an AEO status, have a commercial advantage when importing and exporting. Those holding the status benefit from streamlined customs processes and fast-tracked shipments through border control. Indirectly, the status strengthens the business’s reputation as a safe and secure trading partner, giving them a competitive advantage.

Due to the changing face of international trade and World Customs Organisation (WCO) objectives, the requirement for businesses to hold an AEO status may significantly increase, as those holding it will, by default, receive priority clearance. Those not accredited will be subject to detrimental impacts on their customs related activity, both operationally and financially.

The benefits of AEO

• Reduced administration
• Movement of goods
• Improved security & safety
• Improved supply chain predictability and consistency
• Simplified Customs declarations and EIDR (Entry in Declarant’s Records)
• Transit simplifications
• Priority treatment of consignments if selected for control
• The option of a centralised clearance self-assessment
• Easier admittance to special procedures such as CSFP (Customs Freight Simplified Procedures), temporary storage and customs warehousing
• Duty deferment guarantee reduction and SIVA (Simplified Import VAT Accounting)
• Guarantee reductions or waivers
• Removal of previous sales provisions relating to valuations

How we can help

Successfully achieving an AEO status for a business can be a time consuming, challenging and daunting exercise. As the only Chamber of Commerce to be AEO accredited, we can help your business through every step of the process, from preparing and assessing if your business is ready to submit a formal application, to successfully achieving and maintaining the status.

We offer two tiers of service:

Working with your finance and operations departments, and any staff involved in international trade administration we will conduct a full audit and risk assessment of your current international operations and customs procedures against the required standard. You will be provided with a detailed corrections report of the actions your business needs to take, and any enhancements and changes that need to be made to achieve a successful application for AEO status.

Subject to the complexity of your company’s structure and the number of sites to cover, this process typically takes two days. At this stage, subject to our recommendations, if required we can continue to full AEO approval (see tier 2).

For more information on any aspect of AEO, please contact our team on 0114 201 8888 or email international@scci.org.uk.

This level includes working with your business through the entire compliance and application process for AEO status.

In this case your business will achieve the level of compliance required to become accredited with Approved Exporter Status (AES) and Authorised Economic Operator (AEO). Your business will also meet the standard for ISO 28000 approval.

The first stage of this tier will involve conducting an initial control assessment of your business against the required standard (see tier 1). We will then support your business in implementing any new procedures required and ensure that your documentation for ongoing WCO is upheld.

As part of the application process HMRC will visit your business to conduct its own audit, evaluating your finances, shipping procedures, site security and customs compliance. As such we will conduct a trial application prior to submitting your application, to ensure nothing is amiss.

Finally, we will assist you in completing every section of the final application and be present through the HRMC audit.

For more information on any aspect of AEO, please contact our team on 0114 201 8888 or email international@scci.org.uk.

ChamberCustoms delivers a customs declaration service for UK importers and exporters, of all sizes, in every region of the United Kingdom.

With our extensive knowledge, reputation and first-class service in facilitating international trade, we can take the hassle out of your hands when it comes to exporting and importing goods.

The service is offered direct to businesses and through UK freight forwarders, ensuring that customs clearance is accurate, timely and avoids additional costs through delays or errors.

With direct links to the HMRC Customs handling system and all inventory linked ports, we can ensure that your goods, no matter where they enter or leave the UK, will be cleared for onward transportation smoothly. We can help you keep your time sensitive supply chains, moving efficiently and economically.

We offer:

• A high level of compliance and assurance for customers - We are an AEO registered compliance based business
• Confidence on tariff and data entry to remove fiscal risk; backed by the technical expertise of the market leader in this sector
• The Chamber of Commerce network across the UK share a wealth of international trade experience and knowledge 

We know that navigating trade documentation can be complicated. Please get in touch if you have any queries about trading internationally or want to find out more about customs declarations services.

For more information please contact the Sheffield International Trade Centre on 0114 201 8888 or email international@scci.org.uk.

What our members say...

Driven by World Trade Organisation (WTO) and World Customs Organisation (WCO) rules, customs and excise legislation is subject to significant and frequent change and complexity. An internationally trading business must keep up to date with these changes and routinely audit its procedures to ensure compliance.

Sheffield Chamber can support businesses on all technical customs matters and changes as they happen. To avoid any adverse impacts to your business operations in the event of compliance failure, we can assist you to implement procedures to control and manage areas of customs compliance and look at best practice procedures to reduce operating costs.

Whatever the question, query or issue you have, Sheffield Chamber can provide a highly experienced professional industry expert, that will be able to identify and support the implementation of any necessary changes required.

We offer expert consultancy and advice in the following areas:

• Customs Compliance
• Customs Planning and Management
• Customs and Excise Duties
• Excise Planning and Management
• VAT
• Import and Export Customs Procedures
• Customs Duty Reliefs
• Rules of Origin
• Electronic Declaration Procedures
• Simplified Customs Procedures
• Training in Customs and Excise and Import / Export Procedures
• European and North American Customs Issues
• Import and Export Licencing Applications

If required we can also offer in-house tailored audits for your company in customs/VAT procedural compliance, logistics, documentary and procedure compliance.

For more information on any aspect of Customs and Excise, please contact our team on 0114 201 8888 or email international@scci.org.uk.

Our Global Business Network acts as an agile and reliable ecosystem for businesses wishing to widen their international horizons. If you want to start doing business internationally, or looking to explore new markets, this service can assist by connecting you with individuals, organisations and stakeholders in 80 major growth markets across the world.

Sheffield Chambers dedicated team can provide you with support services and solutions, practical advice about the local business environment and potential market opportunities. Whether it’s navigating the legal challenges in a new market, finding a local partner or getting frank advice on how to best position a product or service overseas – our Global Business Network can help.

For more information, please contact our team on 0114 201 8888 or email international@scci.org.uk.