New export licencing workshop hailed a “tremendous success”

A new teaching format trialled by the Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade has been praised by both trainers and learners for building trade knowledge and developing critical soft skills.

The Charter Institute’s new series of practical workshops, combining trainer-led theory with hands-on, group-based exercises, was launched last month with a session on export licencing.

Trade and customs specialist Andy Bridges, who delivered the workshop, called it “a tremendous success”.

Practical workshops

Practical workshops encourage learner to work together to solve real-life licencing challenges.

This includes a variety of scenario-based tasks, from working out whether it’s possible to ship cutting-edge technology to certain countries, to the licencing implications of transporting a defunct warship.

Teamwork

One attendee expressed that they enjoyed the workshop.

Describing the session as “very useful”, they said it was “beneficial for businesses that need to ensure they are doing everything they should be to be compliant with existing laws and regulations.”

They also praised the “good use of teamwork” throughout the day and said members of their team would be returning to expand their trade knowledge further.

Bridges echoed these comments, saying that the workshop builds “individual skills, teamwork and communication, which benefits the person and the business”.

“Without a doubt, the hands-on approach gives learners more input and helps them to retain what they’ve learned more effectively through practical teamwork, rather than just by absorbing theory.”

He added that exploring export control in this way offers trade professionals a “greater understanding of the problems that they may face in their day-to-day roles”.

Export controls

The renewed focus on export controls is timely, as the area has experienced significant system changes in the past year.

The process for applying for licences has migrated from the old system, SPIRE, to the new Licencing for International Trade (LITE) system, with LITE going live for Single Individual Export Licence (SIEL) applications yesterday (17 September).

You can book a place on the next export licencing practical workshop here, as well as explore the other topics we cover in this new format, such as classification, valuation, rules of origin and inward and outward processing.