VEKA, the world-renowned leading UPVC supplier, based in Burnley, has reaffirmed its commitment to continuous improvement and compliance with global trade regulations by hosting two dynamic and interactive training courses focusing upon Importing and Exporting.

The sessions, expertly tailored to the specific needs of VEKA’s business operations, brought together new and existing team members for an in depth, hands-on experience. With international trade regulations continuously evolving, and an influx of new talent at VEKA, the training aimed to ensure every member of the team is not only informed but confident in managing the company’s global supply chain responsibilities.

The courses covered a wide range of essential topics, with the agenda built around VEKA’s real-world operations and challenges. These included:

• Import & Export Basics – outlining step by step what must be actioned to remain compliant and efficient.
• Roles & Responsibilities – clearly defining who does what in terms of documentation, checks, reports, and returns.
• VAT Treatment – handling VAT accurately and understanding the impact on both imports and exports.
• Complex Scenarios – navigating multiple logistical setups involving their own transport, third-party couriers and customer collections.
• Commodity Codes – understanding the importance of classification, including an overview of VEKA’s primary raw materials and manufactured product range.
• Process & Documentation Review – evaluating current internal workflows, identifying strengths and improvement areas.
• Trading with Northern Ireland – examining evidence requirements and audit expectations related to Northern Ireland and the UK Internal Market Scheme.
• Common Pitfalls & Best Practice – avoiding frequently misunderstood areas and ensuring top-tier compliance.

Particular emphasis was placed on practical application, with real-life examples and discussions to encourage collaboration and shared learning. Team members were encouraged to bring up specific scenarios and questions ensuring the content was relevant, immediate, and impactful.

The training also addressed best practices for managing import/export documentation, including storage, accessibility, and retention requirements. VEKA’s team gained clarity on the seven-year retention rule and how to ensure documents are easy to locate, audit-ready, and well-structured.

Jodie Parkinson, Head of Finance at VEKA commented

“The format was interactive and approachable which made the more complex topics feel manageable for everyone involved, which was really useful as the training was for a range of people in different roles. It’s really boosted our confidence across the team.
The trainers, Mandy Lockett and Stef Heywood, were very down to earth. They made it easy to digest and apply to real examples in our business and industry”

As VEKA continues to lead the way in innovation and service within the UPVC systems industry, its proactive investment in staff development and compliance demonstrates the company’s long-term vision and dedication to excellence.

Mandy Lockett, International Business Director commented

“It is a real pleasure to work with VEKA, a company that truly values getting things right when it comes to global trade. They are a great company with good, strong procedures already in place, and it’s clear they take compliance and continuous improvement seriously. The sessions were tailored to reflect the real challenges and opportunities within their supply chain, and the engagement from the team was fantastic. They asked insightful questions, were eager to learn, and brought great energy to the discussions. For newer staff especially, it’s so important to keep on top of these evolving areas, and VEKA is clearly committed to ensuring their team is informed and empowered. It’s always refreshing to deliver training to a business that’s proactive and people focused. I’m confident VEKA is on a strong path to even greater operational excellence”.

These training sessions are set to become a blueprint for future internal knowledge-building initiatives, reinforcing VEKA’s position not only as a manufacturing leader but also as a model of best practice in international trade operations.