Shropshire businesses keep calm and carry on amid trade talks

Bosses came together at Shropshire Chamber of Commerce's latest business networking expo event, which took place at the The Engine Shop at Ironbridge Gorge Museum.

Dozens of businesses exhibited in the historic building, with a steady stream of visitors attending to discuss the current business environment.

Deals keep being done, whether between multi-national organisations or on the ground between businesses in Shropshire, but they are being agreed in an environment of some uncertainty.

The Government will this week formally begin the process of exiting the European Union, and negotiating the trade deal that will shape the way the UK works with its neighbours for decades to come.

But businesses in Shropshire appear relaxed about the outcome of the negotiations, and are not overly concerned by the seemingly confrontational approaches being adopted by parties on both sides of the English Channel.

"There's a lot of sabre-rattling going on from both sides at the moment," said Richard Sheehan, chief executive of Shropshire Chamber of Commerce.

"We have seen it from the EU for some time, and part of that is to put the frighteners on other EU counties that look at the UK and think 'we'll have a piece of that', and decide to leave as well.

"It's very clear to us that there will be no deal until there's a full deal. Each element of the deal, whatever it looks like will be negotiated and concluded, but it won't be a deal until each element is done."

He added: "At the end of the day the UK is the fifth largest economy in the world, with a reasonably good degree of disposable income and wealth. It's an attractive trading partner and common sense will need to prevail.

"We have seen billions of euros worth of products from Germany and France exported here, and neither of those countries will want tariffs on that, or tit-for-tat activity from the UK. We are in a good position at this moment in time to come out of it with a really good partnership arrangement with the EU.

"What constitutes a good deal will be similar levels of access to the market that we have now, minimal imposition of any form of tariff, and minimal restrictions on the movement of people.

"We know from feedback from our companies, many of which employ EU nationals currently, that they are a great contributor to the economic success of the county, and we need assurances very quickly that our current workforce will be granted permission to remain, and that the UK is open for talented people from around the world to come in and work in our businesses."

Nick Jones, of Nick Jones Wealth Management in Shrewsbury, said: "Because we are a valuable trading partner, people who currently trade with us won't want to be left unable to trade.

"The main worry for our individual clients is that uncertainty could be damaging to sentiment, and that that could lead to a reduction in the values of stock markets."

Paul Gossage, commercial director of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust which hosted the expo, was similarly relaxed about Brexit.

He said: "We are not seeing Brexit as a major issue. One area of concern is European funding which while the trust isn't eligible currently for that, some other organisations, charities and groups who are able to attract European funding will now be looking at traditional pots that we have approached.

"There will be greater competition for funding.

"The museums welcome approximately five per cent of our visitors from overseas, and with a willing pound England is becoming a better-value destination, so we may see an increase in our international markets.

"But I don't think it will have a major impact on ourselves – it will be much more of an issue for manufacturers."

Dave Sallows, from Craven Arms printing company EPS, said: "I think in printing everybody would say the same - things were brisk to start with and there was a major wobble at the beginning of this year.

"I think European companies will be looking to pull out of the UK. We have seen it with one business moving its marketing to Germany. It's about sentiment, and whether we are seen as turning our backs on Europe completely or not."