Birmingham businesses want painless Brexit

Businesses in Greater Birmingham want the UK’s exit from the EU single market to be as painless as possible.

Following the triggering of Article 50, the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce has (GBCC) called on the Government to minimise disruption to business during the Brexit negotiations.

Paul Faulkner, GBCC chief executive, said businesses in the area needed clear answers to a number of concerns over the impact of any potential Brexit deal.

Mr Faulkner said: “Today marks the next step on the road to the UK’s departure from the EU. During this two-year negotiation period, we urge the Government and EU to minimise disruption by approaching negotiations professionally and pragmatically.

“Most businesses will be neither interested nor impressed by political point scoring but will want to see the very real questions about the practical concerns they face answered clearly and completely.

“We may not know what the eventual deal will contain, or even if there will be a deal at all. But we can all benefit from ensuring our businesses are in the strongest possible place to face the future head on.”

This concern was echoed by Professor Julian Beer, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Birmingham City University, and Chair of the British American Business Chamber Midlands.

He said: “With the likely thrust of negotiations with Brussels, it is more imperative than ever for the West Midlands to build on its recent success in exporting to the USA and China to grow markets elsewhere in the world.

“A focus on trade agreements is necessary, but first we need to build trade, and in order to build trade, we need to have world-class infrastructure and skills.

“The focus on skills means that we also need to protect the status of UK higher education institutions, and make sure they continue to be attractive destinations for international students and staff – which will require continued research collaboration and mobility opportunities with EU partners.”

Andy Street, the Conservative candidate for Mayor of the West Midlands, actually met with the Prime Minister on her visit to Birmingham for the Qatari trade summit.

Mr Street wanted to outline his West Midlands Renewal Plan – essentially his manifesto – to the Prime Minister and to urge her to develop a Brexit plan that recognised the needs of the West Midlands business community.
Mr Street’s aim is to make the West Midlands the fastest growing economy in the UK by 2020.

He said: “Leaving the EU is the biggest political decision the British people have made in a generation. The immediate task of the Mayor will be to make sure our voice is heard by Government and that we get the best possible deal with the EU for the West Midlands.”

Ahead of his meeting with Mrs May, Mr Street also held talks with the chief executives of the region’s Chambers of Commerce.

“What is interesting is that the issues they raise are all consistent but reflect the different economic strengths of the Black Country, Birmingham and Coventry. I was pleased to have the opportunity to discuss with the PM how we can make the most of Brexit by addressing these issues,” said Mr Street.

His Liberal Democrat challenger for Mayor, Beverley Nielsen said: “Until the EU and the UK have a final agreement, we are still members and everything is still up for grabs.  It gives us two years to make clear to everyone the dangers of leaving, and to turn things around from the ultra-hard stance this Government is taking.”