Ian Mean: Director, Gloucestershire Chamber BusinessWest
“Any politician who is continuing to say that is preferable to delaying our departure, has certainly not been listening to the vast majority of businesses and does not have their interests at heart.”
“The key issue we’re finding is that there is a total lack of clarity, which is forcing companies not to make investments or decisions. “We are already seeing companies who are taking warehouse space in places like the Netherlands to store products because of the uncertainty. “My feeling is that there will be a decision, but anyone guessing as to what that will be, will be onto a winner. “My personal point of view is we would not be that badly off with a no deal Brexit, but obviously people in the manufacturing sector will think differently.”
Robert Gillman: Group CEO, Gillmans
"A lot of consumers are nervous about Brexit and it's affecting confidence and spending in the high streets, as we all see and read. Despite all of this, we are encountering price increases from factories already in 2019. "We as a company buy from Germany and Italy, and already have had increases ranging between three and seven per cent. "The government has been too slow, they have dragged their heels for too long and that hasn’t helped. "We all just want them to make a decision and get on with it.We need consumer confidence and stability." a no deal Brexit, but relationships across the globe. “Exports to countries with EU free trade agreements are worth almost £2.4 billion to the SouthWest every year. “The risk to these deals is an overlooked danger to our economy and yet another reason why no deal is not an option for the UK and jeopardises jobs in our communities. “It is vital compromise is shown on both sides to come to a deal.” Punchline could have asked another 100 representatives of Gloucestershire business, but we would have only been writing the same thing over and over again. It’s clear that people and business just want the uncertainty to end and to get planning for the new normal, whatever that may be. l Deborah Fraser: Regional Director, CBI SouthWest “Many firms are unaware it is not just their relationships with EU customers at risk from
Mark Hartery: Director, Aitch and Aitch Bee Events
“What we are seeing is a slow-down in terms of people committing to events in the long term.
“People are not able to deal with the uncertainty and some of the scaremongering they are hearing in the media and they are believing it. “We would like to see them get on and do something. We can all plan for an eventuality when we know what is happening. “From the discussions we’ve had everyone is sick of it and even if what happens is unpalatable for them, at least we would all be able to get on with it.” “I seem to have been saying since the day that the referendum result was announced, that the most important thing for business was some certainty on what happened next. “The politicians have let businesses of all kinds down by failing to get clarity. The other over-riding message is that the one thing that must not be allowed to happen is a no deal Brexit. Kevan Blackadder: BID Director, Cheltenham BID
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