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THINK LIKE A CFO:
USE ATA CARNETS TO SAVE, GROW, AND INCREASE CASH FLOW Positive cash flow is a prime concern for any business. The last thing you want to do is tie up money unnecessarily if you don’t have to. One often overlooked cost is the overseas deposit required by many countries when temporarily importing goods. These deposits can tie up substantial sums—sometimes for years— restricting valuable capital that could otherwise be applied to your business. What are Overseas Deposits? When goods temporarily enter a foreign country, customs authorities often require a deposit, typically a percentage of the goods’ value, to guarantee duties and taxes will be paid if the items remain in their country. Even if you only intend to bring in an exhibition booth, film equipment, or scientific instruments for a few weeks, customs will not simply ‘take your word for it.’
Import duties and taxes apply to temporary imports and in some countries, rates can be as high as 40% of the goods’ value. That means bringing in £100,000 worth of goods could require a £40,000 cash deposit. Multiply that by several trips and destinations and the financial impact quickly escalates—resulting in restrictions on both your cash flow and international opportunity. You’ll be assessed duties and taxes unless you find another way to bring in goods without paying those charges. The ATA Carnet Advantage The ATA Carnet is an international unified customs document that eliminates the need for overseas deposits. Accepted in over 90 countries and territories, it allows for duty- and tax-free temporary importation of goods ranging from fine art to musical instruments, technology, television and film production equipment, and more. It simplifies customs clearance and avoids payment of duties and taxes on your temporarily imported goods, merchandise, and equipment. The ATA Carnet can be used for multiple trips to the same country
Image by Lorenzo Montezemolo
or across several destinations, offering unmatched flexibility and cost control. Why It Matters for Financial Management Using ATA Carnets provides: • Reduction in cash outflow • Built-in cost controls and savings features • Positive cash flow for reinvestment in growth The certainty of knowing where your money is being spent—and where it isn’t tied up unnecessarily—is crucial. By removing the need to make large deposits with multiple customs authorities, ATA Carnets support global business expansion and growth while protecting your business’ working capital. At boomerang carnets® UK, in partnership with the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, we help companies find the best solution for their global trade needs. Learn more at www.boomerangcarnets.co.uk
AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO EMBEDDING WORK-LIFE INCLUSION Laura Evans CEO Glass Ceilings Change Management
Glass Ceilings Change Management takes an innovative approach to embedding work-life inclusion. Our ethos has always been important to us. However, in the complex economic, commercial, and social climate in which businesses are currently operating, our approach has become increasingly important to shaping workplace culture, productivity, and profitability, and is valued as such by our clients and partners. We support businesses of all sizes UKwide to plan for their growth with a stable structure because they offer a working environment people want to join, develop, progress, and stay. We do this through a unique approach, combining traditional
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management consultancy, HR consultancy, and inclusion consultancy into one strategic commercial consultancy practice. Our nearly two decades’ experience spans small businesses and start-ups of less than 50 people through to organisations of over 40,000 FTE. We partner with organisations to understand their unique operational needs and pressure points, tailoring our advice and approach to their size, structure, and operations accordingly. One of our core values is ‘Progressive’, meaning we are actively embracing, influencing, and enabling changes in how and where organisations work through our expertise, innovation, and by sharing good practice across multiple sectors. This includes embracing technological advances, including the rapid development of AI, to streamline business processes whilst considering wider ethical implications. We encourage reskilling of employees in advancing technologies to mitigate the risk of rising unemployment, and we are proud to be feeding this expertise into Liverpool Chamber’s Local Skills Improvement Partnership (LSIP) board as a Strategic Partner.
We also encourage wider use of tech and AI to provide workplace adaptations and effective hybrid working wherever appropriate, in order to increase meaningful employment opportunities for long-term sick and disabled people. This is particularly impactful during a period of increasing economic inactivity caused by rising sickness in the working age population since the outbreak of the pandemic. Our approach ensures work-life inclusion is not an afterthought, rather it is deeply embedded across the way our own business operates and transforms the way our clients operate. All of which enables people and businesses to thrive, in turn benefitting society and the economy. Please visit www.glassceilings.co.uk for more information or email info@glassceilings.co.uk