NEWS | EDITOR’S NOTE | ANALYSIS | INTERVIEW
The planned IPO of UK mobile operator O2 has reportedly been put on hold as a result of the uncertainty surrounding Brexit. Anna Tobin reports
Speaking in his role as chairman of Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc., Toyota’s president Akio Toyoda urged the UK Government to redouble its efforts to reach a withdrawal agreement with the EU. Anna Tobin reports
Newly published French notices for a no deal Brexit state that UK visitors to France will need a visa to enter the country and a residence permit to stay there long term. Anna Tobin reports
Low-skilled men with only GCSE qualifications or less are more likely than any other group to work in industries at particular risk from possible new barriers to trade with the EU finds the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Anna Tobin investigates
The EEF, the Manufacturers Organisation, and health and safety experts Arco have co-published a report calling for current health and safety regulations to be maintained once the UK exits the EU. Anna Tobin looks at the reasoning behind this
Which? has released a wide-ranging report into the potential impact of a no-deal Brexit with a disheartening conclusion. Anna Tobin reports
Think tank the Institute for Government (IfG) has assessed the Government’s technical notices that set out how Government bodies, businesses, and individuals need to prepare for a possible no deal Brexit and finds that some of the biggest questions remain unanswered. Anna Tobin reports
Latest No Deal documents cover everything from animal breeding to industrial disinfectant regulation
A further raft of detailed guidance notes on how to prepare for a no deal Brexit has been issued by Whitehall. Anna Tobin examines their contents
Homes for sale are at close to record lows, finds the latest RICS UK Residential Market Survey and Brexit is seen as a major contributing factor. Anna Tobin reports
John Glen MP, the economic secretary to the Treasury and Minister for the City of London told the EU Financial Affairs Sub-Committee today that he agrees with the Bank of England’s estimate that the City will lose 5000 jobs by Brexit day. Anna Tobin reports
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has launched its Brexit Readiness Programme in a bid to safeguard the UK’s automotive supply chain in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Anna Tobin reports
Charlie Mullins OBE is the founder of Pimlico Plumbers and the man behind the controversial campaign ‘Bollocks to Brexit.’ He spoke to Anna Tobin to explain why he set up the campaign and how concerned he is at the damage Brexit will potentially do to UK SMEs
The BRC – KPMG retail sales monitor for September 2018 reveals that UK retail sales fell by 0.2% year-on-year. A number of factors contributed to this drop and Brexit uncertainty is one of them. Anna Tobin reports
The £2.15 million Red Meat Benchmarking scheme launched today to help Welsh cattle and sheep farmers make their businesses more efficient and economic and to prepare them for Brexit. Anna Tobin reports
The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) has announced that even in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the legal requirements designed to promote common safety and technical principles across all EU railways must still be met by UK rail companies and suppliers. Anna Tobin reports
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is inviting comment on how its legislation and regulatory processes should be adapted in the eventuality of a no-deal Brexit. Anna Tobin reports
Upholstery retailer DFS Furniture PLC used the announcement of its preliminary results to outline how it is preparing for Brexit. Anna Tobin reports
Business consultant Richard Barfield who runs BrexitFactBase has produced an in-depth report that explains how different Brexit scenarios could impact the UK’s global status as a trading nation. Anna Tobin reports
All UK-based parties that receive funding from Horizon 2020, the EU’s programme for science and innovation, are urged to register their related projects on a portal managed by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Anna Tobin reports
The Fairtrade Foundation, which campaigns to get a better deal for producers and workers in developing countries, warns that an increase in trade tariffs could seriously damage the Fairtrade banana market and many other Fairtrade industries. Anna Tobin reports
A Canada-style Brexit trade agreement has been talked up recently as a possible alternative to a no-deal Brexit, but Stephen Phipson, chief executive officer of EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, warns that it’s not the answer. Anna Tobin reports
As the prospect of a no-deal Brexit becomes ever-more likely, attention has turned to whether a Canada-style Free Trade Agreement (FTA) could be negotiated once the UK has left the EU. Anna Tobin investigates how easily and effectively such a deal could be achieved.
The EU deal with Canada…
Only 14% of small businesses have begun planning for Brexit, finds new research from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). Anna Tobin reports
The FSB report found that only one in seven small business have begun planning for Brexit…
Keen to expand its export footprint in the wake of Brexit, Suffolk-based St Peter’s Brewery has signed a deal with a Chinese importer. Anna Tobin reports
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has warned the Government that the current state of the Brexit negotiations is extremely worrying for small businesses and that its latest no-deal Brexit preparation documents have not allayed those fears. Anna Tobin reports
Responding to this week’s release of another tranche of…
When releasing its half-year results, British homeware and clothing retailer Next PLC issued a stark warning about the problems that a no deal Brexit will cause the business. Anna Tobin reports
Next PLC dedicated a large chunk of its half-year report to July 2018 to explaining its Brexit preparations…
While the UK Government is still working towards a deal, it has released another batch of planning advice documents for a no deal Brexit. These cover topics as diverse as intellectual property to the manufacturing and marketing of fertilisers. Anna Tobin reports
The Government’s updated list of guidance notes…
The latest CBI Industrial Trends Survey of 409 firms, shows that UK manufacturing output growth slowed in the three months to September, but stayed above the long-term average. Anna Tobin reports
In ten of the 17 sub-sectors, output grew. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) report found that growth was driven largely by…
UK export growth has fallen for a sixth consecutive quarter and is nearing the point of contraction according to the latest European Export Index published by accountants and business advisers BDO LLP. Anna Tobin reports
UK export growth has dropped significantly and was the worst performing of the largest five EU economies in the last quarter…
Following the EU leaders’ meeting in Salzburg, Austria, global professional services firm KPMG has warned that the chances of a no deal Brexit are now higher than ever and urged businesses to prepare accordingly. Anna Tobin reports
Following today’s summit of EU leaders in Austria…
German car manufacturer BMW revealed this week that it was moving a planned month shut down of its Oxfordshire plant to April 2019 to coincide with when the UK exits the EU, many SMEs are also now taking decisive action to protect themselves from the predicted turbulent effects of Brexit. Anna Tobin reports
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has responded to the Government’s Migration Advisory Committee’s (MAC) report on EEA migration in the UK and it’s not happy with its findings where SMEs are concerned. Anna Tobin reports
Among the recommendations of the MAC report was for Tier 2 migration opportunities to be…
The Government’s Migration Advisory Committee has published its final report on EEA migration in the UK. Anna Tobin looks at its findings
In July 2017, the Home Office commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee…
IMF says any Brexit scenario will cost the UK, with no deal posing the biggest threat to the economy
Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warns that a no deal Brexit leading the UK to return to World Trade Organization rules will be extremely costly for the UK. Anna Tobin reports
The newly published IMF’s annual review of the British economy concludes that any Brexit scenario will be costly for the UK…
Think tank the Institute for Government has published a report entitled Brexit: six months to go, which looks at the progress the Government has made in delivering Brexit and what still needs to be done. Anna Tobin reports
The British Chambers of Commerce economic forecast has been downgraded as a result of Brexit uncertainty hitting investment and trade. Anna Tobin reports
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) today (September 17 2018) downgraded its growth expectations for the UK economy. It forecasts that GDP growth for 2018 will be 1.1%, down from 1.3%…
The UK Government has published its second major tranche of documents advising individuals and organisations on how to plan for no deal. Anna Tobin reports
While the Government is still working towards a deal with the EU, it recognises that there is a possibility that the UK…
European credit rating agency Scope Ratings says even if a no deal Brexit is avoided, Brexit has already cost the UK economy over 1% of its GDP since the referendum. Anna Tobin reports
Scope expects the UK to avoid a no-deal scenario, but…
Unsure of what tariffs you could be paying on your goods if the UK exits the EU without a deal? The Government’s little-known trade tariff search could prove useful reports Anna Tobin
If the UK exits the EU without a deal, World Trade Organization (WTO) rules will apply to all UK trade…
The City of London lost out to New York in the September 2018 Global Financial Centres Index, which evaluates future competitiveness and rankings for 100 major financial centres around the globe. Anna Tobin reports
The September 2018 Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI24), produced by…
A report by the National Audit Office has found that The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has made good progress with its preparations for Brexit, but it still faces huge challenges, particularly when it comes to averting food and livestock delays…
The majority of UK businesses feel that they lack the necessary information to start making decisions about their post-Brexit recruitment strategy, according to new research by the CIPD and The Adecco Group. Anna Tobin reports
The Adecco Group’s quarterly Brexit tracker is compiled using data from the…
The Port of Antwerp courts British trade with a UK roadshow demonstrating that it’s ready for Brexit
The Port of Antwerp assures British companies who bring goods through the port that it has everything prepared for Brexit. Anna Tobin reports
With an annual freight volume of around 15 million tonnes, the UK is the Port of Antwerp’s third-largest maritime trading partner…
Brexit could lead to a shortage of software developers in the UK, reveals research by software company Pivotal. Anna Tobin reports
UK businesses need to prepare themselves for a software skills shortfall post Brexit, finds a survey commissioned by Pivotal Software, Inc…
Many companies are setting up additional companies in the EU or moving their headquarters to an EU country in a bid to minimise the negative fall-out they expect Brexit to have on their businesses. Anna Tobin looks at who is going where
The number of companies leaving the UK because of Brexit is growing…
Universities UK, the body that speaks for the UK university sector, has called on the Government to create a new visa that would allow international students to stay and work in the UK for up to two years after graduation. Anna Tobin reports
The post-study work visa, which enables non-EU international students…
The cons resulting from exiting the EU without a deal far outweigh the pros says think tank The UK in a Changing Europe in its report The Cost of No Deal Revisited, published September 3, 2018. Anna Tobin examines its findings…
Now that the Government has published its first batch of Technical Notices on the implications of a No Deal outcome to Brexit, British companies that trade internationally are in a position to get better prepared for this scenario. Anna Tobin examines what this entails
Importing and exporting post Brexit will become a much lengthier process. The UK will become what is known as a ‘third country’ when…
Responding to the findings of the latest quarterly CBI Services Sector Survey, Rain Newton-Smith, the CBI’s chief economist, calls on the Government and the EU to finalise the Withdrawal Agreement and support people’s jobs. Anna Tobin reports
The Government has started to issue the first of a number of documents advising the British people how to prepare for Brexit in the event of a failure to agree on a deal. Anna Tobin reports…
Unless the Government breaks its current political deadlock over Brexit, 2019 will be a horrific year for the British insurance industry, warns international law firm Kennedys. Anna Tobin reports
In its latest insurance industry report entitled Brexit and the Insurance Sector: Towards 2020 and Beyond, Kennedys states…
As the UK enters the end game of Brexit, think tank The Institute For Government published its report looking at how it could now play out. Anna Tobin reports
The publication entitled Autumn surprises: possible scenarios for the next phase of Brexit…
British manufacturers are making preparations for a No Deal Brexit and are looking at their options outside of the EU, finds a new study by Sheffield Hallam University and SSG Insight. Anna Tobin reports
Harnessing Brexit, Technology and Insight: British Manufacturers, a Competitive Edge in an Age of Uncertainty and Opportunity is the title of a new report…
A stark reduction in EU nationals entering the UK coincides with a significant drop in suitable job applicants finds a survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and The Adecco Group. Anna Tobin reports
The latest quarterly Labour Market Outlook from the CIPD and The Adecco Group, based on a survey of 2,001 employers, has found that pay rises will be stable at 2% for most workers…
The British summer fruits industry is concerned that the Government is not doing enough to safeguard the supply of seasonal agricultural workers from the EU post-Brexit. Anna Tobin reports…
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has warned that Britain would run out of food within a year if it was forced to be self-sufficient. Anna Tobin reports
The president of the NFU Minette Batters has warned the Government that a year today, 7 August 2019, is the day that Britain would run out of food if…
The Government has just published guidance notes on what the Brexit implementation period means for those in the life sciences industries. Anna Tobin reports
The guidance notes published August 6, 2018, show that as those in the sector are already aware, the impact of Brexit on life sciences is going to be significant, but the implementation period brings some breathing space…
Ofcom-licensed broadcasters whose channels are exported to the EU, may need to obtain individual country licenses to continue broadcasting in Europe post Brexit. Anna Tobin reports
Those Ofcom-licensed broadcasters who broadcast within the EU Television companies may have to reassess which countries they transmit to after Brexit…
Brexit has been named as the prime reason that 93% of UK businesses claim to be expecting a fall in revenues in 2019, according to a survey by MHR Analytics. Anna Tobin reports
Specialist provider of business intelligence and analytics solutions MHR Analytics used independent polling company Censuswide…
A survey by international payments provider Currencies Direct has found that the majority of UK SMEs are looking at international expansion as a way of growing their business as a result of Brexit. Anna Tobin reports
Currencies Direct’s research showed that 84% of UK SMEs are looking at international expansion and 57% thought that international trade generally offered more opportunities than challenges…
Research by immigration law firm Migrate UK states that companies are paying up to £100,000 in incentives in a bid to keep EU workers on their payroll. Anna Tobin reports
Migrate UK surveyed one thousand HR Directors from organisations who employ over 250 EU workers in the UK. The survey completed between June 21 and 22 2018 found that of those polled, 66% struggled to recruit staff with the sufficient skills since the Brexit referendum. This rose to 86% for banking, 83% for finance and 79% for IT sectors…
Today, July 25, 2018, the UK Government published an employer toolkit that is designed to equip employers with the necessary tools and information required to support their employees who are EU citizens and their families through the EU Settlement Scheme. Anna Tobin reports
The online toolkit available here includes six documents…
Leading food policy experts are warning the UK government, the food industry and the public that the political uncertainties surrounding Brexit could threaten the safety and integrity of food being sold and consumed in the UK and exported abroad. Anna Tobin reports…
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warns in its July 2018 Country Report that the UK’s departure from the EU will negatively impact both sides. Anna Tobin reports
The latest Country Report from the IMF looks at how integrated the UK is now with the EU and then given this relationship it assesses how different Brexit scenarios will impact on the UK and EU members…
In a bid to help businesses in the EU make the necessary changes and get ready for Brexit, the European Commission has published a factsheet detailing how businesses in the EU27 can prepare for Britain exiting the Union. Anna Tobin reports
Seven Things Businesses in the EU27 Need to Know in Order to Prepare for Brexit is the title of the European Commission’s factsheet and it recommends the following…
UK pharmaceutical bodies have welcomed the news that Parliament has voted in favour of amendment NC17 to the Brexit Trade Bill, which will make it a negotiating objective for the UK Government to seek the UK’s participation in the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) European medicines regulatory network. Anna Tobin reports
Arla, Britain’s largest dairy business, warns that Brexit could result in less choice, higher prices and lower food standards as a result of border changes. Anna Tobin reports
Arla Foods UK, the country’s largest dairy company, has warned that if Brexit were to result in non-tariff barriers to trade and restricted access to labour, it would have a huge impact on the country’s dairy industry…
The Royal Town Planning Institute has published a briefing paper produced in conjunction with the sustainability think tank the Institute for European Environmental Policy, looking at how different Brexit scenarios could affect land use in the UK. It indicates that environmental regulations could become heavily diluted. Anna Tobin reports
A survey by the Institute of Export and International Trade has found that 39.75% of UK exporters would like the UK to stay in the Single Market following Brexit. Anna Tobin reports
A Brexit survey of the Institute of Export and International Trade has found that two years on from the referendum 39.75% of UK exporters said that continued membership of the Single Market was of the highest possible importance, scoring it ten out of ten. This has increased year-on-year from 33.6% in 2017…
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has created a tool to help farmers assess the impact that Brexit could have on their business. Anna Tobin reports
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has designed the Brexit Impact Calculator to forecast how different Brexit scenarios could impact on farming businesses.
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has issued a warm response to the UK Government’s Brexit White Paper and pushes the government to move quickly now. Anna Tobin reports
In a statement published in response to the UK government’s White Paper on the future of the relationship between the UK and the EU, Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the CBI, said…
One of the UK’s largest providers of professional services KPMG UK has issued a statement responding to the UK government’s White Paper on the future of the relationship between the UK and the EU. Anna Tobin reports
In response to the UK government’s Brexit White Paper, James Stewart, KPMG UK’s head of Brexit said: ‘Most businesses will welcome today’s White Paper…
Things are looking up for SMEs in financial services and manufacturing, but SMEs that export to the EU have a tough road ahead finds the Quarter 2, 2018 SME Growth Tracker. Anna Tobin reports
A survey by international payments company OFX embargoed until today, July 10, 2018, but carried out prior to the recent cabinet reshuffle, finds that SMEs are now more positive about Brexit than they were when surveyed a year ago. Anna Tobin reports
The key findings of the OFX annual survey of 500 UK small business owners and senior managers at businesses with between 10 and 249 employees. found that SMEs are starting to feel more positive about international trade, particularly within Western Europe.
Professor Doctor Ralf Speth, the CEO of Jaguar Land Rover has urged the UK government to provide clarity on Brexit. Anna Tobin reports
The CEO of Britain’s largest car manufacturer issued a statement July 4, 2018 calling on the UK government to rapidly provide certainty for business and to guarantee tariff-free access and frictionless trade with the European Union.
The British Chambers of Commerce has found that there are a number of Brexit questions that businesses want the government to answer. Anna Tobin takes a look at the concerns causing them to raise their hands
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has devised a traffic-light system for assessing the answers to key questions British businesses have on Brexit.
Professional services multinational PwC has released a report looking at how Brexit could impact on the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries and it highlights a number of key points, reports Anna Tobin
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) have come together to urge the UK government and the EU to guarantee citizens’ rights after March 29, 2019. The two organisations represent millions of public and private sector workers and 190,000 businesses.
In a joint statement Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the TUC and Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the CBI, said: ‘After 15 months of human poker, the uncertainty facing four million European and UK citizens has become intolerable.
If the UK leaves the EU on 29 March 2019 without an agreed trade deal, businesses that export from the UK or import into the UK will have to operate under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. Anna Tobin explains what this means
The European Banking Authority (EBA) warns financial institutions that they must make contingency plans for a No Deal Brexit, reports Anna Tobin
The European Banking Authority is an independent EU Authority charged with ensuring effective and consistent prudential regulation and supervision across the Europe’s banks and financial institutions. Today, June 25, 2018, it highlighted its concern that financial institutions are failing to make contingency plans to cover themselves should the UK leave the EU without a ratified withdrawal agreement…
Airbus has issued a warning that a No Deal Brexit could pose a serious risk to its business, reports Anna Tobin
In a statement, the European aerospace manufacturer said: ‘The UK exiting the EU next year without a deal – therefore leaving both the single market and customs union immediately and without any agreed transition – would lead to severe disruption and interruption of UK production.
Global data and analytics company Dun & Bradstreet published a report June 22, 2018, looking at the impact of Brexit two years on. While some of it makes uncomfortable reading, it has also revealed some positives, reports Anna Tobin
‘Our report Brexit: Two Years On is a pulse check in terms of where business is in the UK,’ explains Ed Thorne, managing director, Dun & Bradstreet UK. ‘Ultimately what it has revealed is that it’s an incredibly uncertain environment. Although some companies have proactively embraced Brexit, there has also been a lot of stagnation, with businesses waiting to see what is going to happen.’
The report found that 53% of business leaders feel that the impact of Brexit has been positive and 42% feel that it has been negative…
Think tank The Institute for Government (IfG) released a report on June 10, 2018, looking at how ready Whitehall is for Brexit. We take a look at the key findings:
The politicians have pushed the Brexit button. They are the people that we see and hear daily in the media trying to steer the UK on a smooth course…
The Irish government has set up a Brexit hub. “Up to date information on the Brexit negotiations brought to you by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.”
Enterprise Ireland also has a hub and self-assessment questionnaire. “Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting its clients in preparing for the risks and opportunities that Brexit poses. Despite the uncertainty, Irish companies can and should be taking immediate action to mitigate the potential risks and position themselves to take advantage of the opportunities.”
The Netherlands has set up 3 websites to help companies and individuals understand the potential implications of Brexit. It is in Dutch, but Google can translate to your language:
Brexitloket.nl is an initiative of the national government and its implementing organizations. “On 29 March 2019 the United Kingdom will leave the European Union. Then Brexit is a fact. Do you do business with the United Kingdom? Or do you plan that? Then prepare yourself for doing business with a country outside the EU.The national government helps you with this.“
Brexit developments. “The United Kingdom wants to leave the European Union. This was officially notified to the European Union (EU) by the United Kingdom (UK) on 29 March 2017. In the two years that follow, the UK and the EU negotiate the conditions for Brexit. And about their future relationship. The UK consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.”
Brexit preparations. “This scan is for all companies in the Netherlands. The Brexit can hit any company, even if you do not suspect it at first. Go through the entire scan to discover unsuspected effects for your company.”
The Brexit site of the Federation of Small Businesses aims to “ensure our members get the best deal out of Brexit”. 4 reports produced in March – July 2017 are also available for download:
An important article in the Harvard Business Review which suggests:
“Only a minority of firms are well ahead in planning and preparing a UK market strategy. At the recent Brexit Workshop we held for clients — in this case, 19 UK heads of some of the world’s largest multinational firms — 10 of them had not started or had only just begun planning for Brexit.“
A new Report from the British Chambers of Commerce urges businesses to begin preparing now for Brexit, and suggests “Business needs to look hard at how they will operate under new conditions in the future”.
This major new Report from the CBI provides an A to Z of the rules that will matter after the transition period. From architects to zoos, it outlines the regulatory needs of 23 industry and service sectors.
Download CBI ‘An A-Z of the EU rules that matter for the economy’,
or visit the dedicated CBI webpage
All publications from the UK House of Commons Select Committee on Exiting the EU are available here
https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/exiting-the-european-union-committee/publications/
All publications from the UK House of Lords Select Committee on Exiting the EU are available here
https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select
The summer is over, and the UK government now has the job of deciding its objectives for the Brexit negotiations. These, like all major negotiations, will no doubt be long and difficult. They will also inevitably create major uncertainty for companies, investors and individuals as they progress. I have personally led major negotiations in a [...]
The UK economy set off into the Great Unknown in March 2017, when premier Theresa May officially notified the European Union of the UK’s intention to leave (Brexit) by the end of March 2019. In response, the EU released its draft guidelines for the negotiations: “The first phase of the negotiations should aim to agree on a divorce settlement on [...]