Dorset businesses on the second anniversary of Brexit

Two years after Britain left the EU on January 31, 2019, Dorset's businesses have given us an insight into how they are faring.

And the results are varied, with some describing the two year anniversary as a 'cause for celebration', while others reported losses of £150k.

REIDsteel, a structural steel engineering company based in Christchurch, has been manufacturing and erecting steel structures worldwide for more than 90 years.

Simon Boyd, managing director of REIDsteel, said: “The anniversary of Brexit is a cause for celebration and optimism for the future.

“It has given our company the confidence to move forward with multi-million-pound redevelopment plans for a state-of-the-art manufacturing base, modern office and new staff facilities.

“This will transform our business and allow us to significantly boost productivity, create more highly-skilled employment and apprenticeships while enhancing our competitiveness in both the domestic and export markets.

Simon Boyd

“It is the perfect example of the long-term benefits that taking back control will bring in giving businesses the freedom, confidence and ability to invest and grow while boosting the local and national economies."

Speaking about whether his business has been restricted by Brexit, Mr Boyd said: “Our business has remained strong, including in international trade where our clients and contacts tell us of the great value they place on high-quality British manufacturing, engineering and design.

“Freedom to trade worldwide is one of the great prizes of Brexit which has already resulted in the roll-over of nearly all the trade deals Brussels secured outside the EU as well as historic new free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand and an application to join the Trans-Pacific trading bloc.

“There were always going to be some bumps along the road on the UK’s journey following Brexit, which has not been helped by the Covid pandemic, and it will take more than two years to emerge completely from 20 years of misrule from Brussels.

“However, we are already seeing enormous benefits that our new freedoms are bringing which will only grow as our time in the EU fades into the distance and we realise our potential as a modern, dynamic and independent country that is still part of Europe, just not run by it.”

Mark Constantine OBE, Lush co-founder and CEO, says his business has been restricted by Brexit.

He said: "In business we always hope that governments will create an even playing field. However government isn’t a very sophisticated instrument, so in the end we do what we can in the circumstances provided.

"Brexit has increased red tape, increased transport costs and this makes it harder to move things around.

"It is also harder to get the right people in the right place with the restrictions on people’s movement. It has to be said our business in Europe is weaker than it was."

Mr Constantine also recognises that Covid has also been a factor over the last two years.

He said: "Covid was far more challenging and we were very encouraged by all the support we have enjoyed, from the financial help from national and local government to the four hundred extra local staff who helped us fill our shelves at Christmas, to the local shoppers who visit our Poole and Bournemouth shops no matter what the state of restrictions or collapse of other retailers nearby.

"To sum up we have far more to be grateful for than to complain about."

Smaller independent businesses in the area, have also reported difficulties caused by Brexit.

Justin Smith, director at Bournemouth-based marketing agency Orbital Ltd, said: “I lost around £150k thanks to Brexit, down to market confidence. It was like the triple-glazed windows were pulled shut. The noise and activity just stopped.

"Once clients saw that nothing was going to happen imminently things began to pick up very slowly and then we had the disaster of Covid. Brexit means that I can no longer travel and work as a photographer in Europe – ongoing, this has lost me around £30k per year. Not significant in the grand scheme of things but a really enjoyable part of my commercial life was taken from me.”

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) – a sector that brought around £140m to the BCP area – also reportedly ground to a halt when Covid hit.

Former business owner in this field Barbara Leonard said: “Brexit killed my ability to travel freely between Spain and the UK, so I was no longer able to offer tailored talks and English language materials to schools and residential courses here for individuals.

"My (TEFL) business has closed down. Now Ireland and Malta have benefitted from much of the English language business the U.K. used to enjoy.”