What is the normal timescale for a SPIRE application?

Question

I have completed the SPIRE application for my main site but it has said “awaiting approval” for over 2 weeks now. What is the normal timescale or do I have an issue?

(This question was asked at one of our recent webinars on Export Controls. You can listen to this webinar on our recent webinars page at https://opentoexport.com/info/webinars/)

Answer

Once you have submitted the initial information, the ECO will send a letter to your company secretary to confirm that it is a valid application. If they are not aware that it is coming and it appears out of the blue they may sit on it without responding and therefore lead to a delay. Before you speak to the ECO it is probably worth making contact with your company secretary to see if they have responded.

Answer

Thanks for you response. Fortunately such a letter would have been addressed to me in this case.
I went searching for it yesterday and found the letter had been "mislaid" in the post room…. The letter is now reunited with its addressee and hopefully everything will run a little bit more smoothly now.

Answer

William – glad you found the letter. Just to let you know our target time for handling is to process 70% applications in 20 working days.

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