Anti-European rhetoric not reflective of all Midlands businesses
A tsunami of anti-European rhetoric is not indicative of the feelings of the entire business community, a Midlands logistics firm has said.
With Brexit discussions now under way, Phil Storer, the UK director of Pooling Partners, Europe’s largest pooler and manufacturer of sustainable wooden pallets to the supply chain, said the negativity did not represent the true state of cross border trade.
Mr Storer said that despite the continued political fall-out from the EU referendum and this month’s General Election, it remained business as usual for many.
“Of course there is concern as to what will happen, but the antagonistic rhetoric between the politicians does not reflect the day-to-day discussions between UK and European companies – it is business as usual and that will continue to be the case in real terms,” said Mr Storer, whose business manufactured 20 million pallets last year.
The Coventry business, as with many others, has built up strong links across Europe over many years and Mr Storer said these were not going to dissolve overnight.
“Companies like ours have built up (relationships) across Europe over many years – that is not going to change. We all need food on the table and business will find a way – trade deal or no trade deal,” he said.
“To listen to the politicians, you would think we were at war with Europe, when the reality is that we are closer now than we have ever been. Relations continue to be warm. Yes, there will inevitably be Brexit, but that does not mean Brex-hate.”
He said the business had coined another phrase to describe its own position – Bragnostic.
“This means whatever happens, we will remain pragmatic,” he said.
One example of this pragmatism was recognising the inherent issues surrounding over-stretching supply chains in order to mitigate and reduce costs.
“All that did was to increase the business carbon footprint while at the same time reduce the quality of the offering and the reputation of the participating brands,” he said.
“Globalisation has sometimes become a dirty word because of the poor way it has been implemented. The trend towards right-shoring call centres back to the countries of origin was a recognition that they simply did not work and took businesses too far away from what really matters; customers. It was a lack of empathy rather than an antipathy.
“In the real world, treating everyone fairly and professionally – without name calling, is the best business methodology. Governments will come and go, but fair trade is a continuum which is why Brexit without the Brex-hate must be our watchword.”
