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CBI: No more Brexit soap opera - Time to unite to achieve best deal

The CBI’s President issued a call for unity, to enable business, the Government and the European Union to achieve the best Brexit deal to protect the UK’s economy.

In a speech to over 1,000 business leaders at the CBI’s Annual Conference at the Intercontinental London – The O2, Paul Drechsler CBE, will also unveil new research showing the extent to which firms are actively preparing for Brexit. Smaller businesses are less prepared, whilst larger firms face greater challenges, but both are being affected by uncertainty. Indeed, by March 2018, 60% of firms will have triggered their contingency plans if there are no transitional arrangements in place.

Highlighting the contribution of business to society, he will also call for firms and the Government to close the widening productivity gap, and adapt to the changing work practices of the future, as well as recognising the need to allow local areas to deal with these issues their own way.

On Brexit, Paul Drechsler CBE, CBI President, said:

“Business has a responsibility to speak up and suggest solutions when we see obstacles in the way of UK prosperity. Currently, we see one major challenge – not Brexit itself: we’re 100% committed to making a success of it. But the approach to Brexit.

“We need a single, clear strategy. A plan for what we want, and what kind of relationship we seek with the EU.

“At the moment, I’m reminded of a prime-time soap opera, with a different episode each week. First Lancaster House, then article 50, the European Council, two dinners with Juncker – and no doubt many exciting instalments to follow.

“Each one becomes the Big Story, until the next one rolls around. And the effect is that genuine steps forward such as the Prime Minister’s Florence speech don’t get the recognition they deserve.

“That speech represented real progress. It put the needs of the economy first. It set a co-operative tone. And it unlocked progress.

“We need to learn from that and recognise that this is the moment to unite behind the principles of the Florence speech.

“But time is of the essence. We must leave behind the episodic approach and take this opportunity to move forward as one – business and politicians, here and abroad. Everyone in this room.

“According to a new CBI survey, 87% of companies have discussed Brexit at board level1. If anything, that’s too low. So the other 13% need to roll up their sleeves and get a move on.

“As you’d expect our largest and best-resourced companies lead the way with contingency planning – financial services, tech, logistics.

“But for SMEs, powerhouses of the UK economy, things are taking longer. They tell us they’re struggling. Struggling to plan, to predict, to calculate.

“To those companies, I say this: We will support you. But to Whitehall and Brussels, the Bundestag and the Assemblée Nationale, I say this: Now, more than ever, business is looking for political leaders across Europe to step up.

“Brexit is only 508 days away. But for many businesses, their alarm clocks are set even earlier than that. They’re set to the moment they will actually enact their contingency plans.

“For 10% of business the alarm has already rung, and they’ve begun moving staff or slowing recruitment.

“Without a transitional deal, when EU leaders gather in Brussels for the March summit, a total of 60% of businesses will have done the same2. The clock is ticking.

“So government and the EU need to get a move on. Making progress, remaining flexible and, first of all, sorting out transitional arrangements.

“These arrangements won’t solve everything, but 75% of the country’s largest firms say it would halt their preparations for no deal3.

“And then, after banking that short-term stability, we can turn to the biggest prize of all. The long-term relationship between the UK and the EU, based on a trade deal for goods and services that’s right for the people of Britain.”

On the Government working with business on Brexit, Mr. Drechsler said:

“Success comes from developing those different views into a shared vision. I know that Brexit is a huge issue. But parliament has a proud history of meeting unprecedented challenge with unprecedented co-operation.

“In the 30s, after the Great Depression, and during World War Two, under the great unifier, Sir Winston Churchill. We need that spirit again and we need it now.

“Just think what we could achieve if we do it right. A constructive and collaborative approach to Brexit would reassure millions of EU nationals in the UK and tell them that yes, we do want you to carry on contributing.

“It would make free trade deals quicker and easier to accomplish. And it would project an image of a strong, self-confident nation across the world. But most of all it would be a principled way to get the deal that we want and that Europe wants.

“A good deal. A deal that allows businesses to grow, import and export easily. A deal that keeps our R&D structures intact, for new work into robotics and artificial intelligence. A deal that protects jobs, people’s ability to travel, and their freedom to choose the life they want.

“In other words, a good deal would secure our prosperity for generations. We need politics, united. Business, united. And Britain, united. That’s the only way to get the Brexit we need, the economy that we deserve and prosperity for all.”

On making the case for capitalism, Mr. Drechsler said:

“British industry has never been more keen to prove its worth to society than it is today.

“Three quarters of all UK tax revenue - £500 billion – is supported by private sector activities. Through the taxes they pay, the jobs they create and the products they make, the private sector employs almost 27 million people, or over 83% of all employment.

“Business has invested billions into UK infrastructure. And we’re fantastic at turning our heritage of diplomacy and innovation into international trade.

“Such as our over $1 trillion trading and investment relationship with the USA, split 50:50 each way. Our $2 trillion trading and investment relationship with the EU. Our status as the largest G20 investor and job creator in India. Or even our approach to China, where we’ve been the first to shift our investments into high growth regions and sectors. The entire nation can feel proud of this.

“We must unite the country behind inclusive capitalism – more equal growth, and a sustainable, resilient economy.

“First, we need to eat, drink and sleep productivity.

“Data from the ONS shows that Britain’s output per hour worked is now around 22% lower than the US and France and around 27% lower than Germany.

“With those figures, it no longer seems unfortunate that that Germany has grown its exports twice as fast as us over the past five years – it seems inevitable.

“As a CBI report identified last year to close the gap we need to invest in infrastructure in infrastructure, in education, and in management.

“This will take time. But it is possible. We need to revise the apprenticeship levy, to make it more flexible and responsive. And at the same time, we have to invest in all schools, by protecting ‘per pupil’ funding, replenishing capital budgets, and making sure that when young people go out into the world of work, they’ve got the skills, experience and guidance they need to succeed.

“But we can also respond ahead of time to the fact that many jobs in the future will be automated – over 35%, according to some studies. This has huge workplace implications. But it also has huge implications for inequality. The low-skilled jobs that disappear will be replaced by high-skilled jobs, responsible for oversight and management.

“This is more than a step change. It’s a completely new era, and one that will require a massive programme of education and training.

“So business, government and trade unions must work together. And make sure that our economy and our employees are able to adapt.

“We also need to unlock greater regional growth. The new metro-mayors are a great start.

“Business and education must overlap as a matter of course, not as an optional extra.

“We know what happens when we get this right – a more inclusive economy, one that grows consistently and one that is not only resilient to change, but that powers it in the first place.”

About the new EU research:

306 CBI member companies completed a Brexit survey between 2nd and 16th October 2017.

These survey results correspond to the following reference points in the speech:

1 Has your organisation done any of the following in response to Brexit?

  • Discussed Brexit at board level (86.6%)
  • Created an internal taskforce or steering group to monitor and report on Brexit (32.3%)
  • Other (15.8%)
  • No action taken (11.1%)
  • Hired external firms to help manage response to Brexit (9.6%)
  • Hired additional employees to help manage response to Brexit (4.3%)

2 When do you need greater certainty regarding Brexit to stop the implementation of ‘no deal’ contingency plans?

  • 10% for whom this deadline for already passed
  • 24% by end of Jan 2018
  • 26% by end of March 2018

3 Would the agreement of transitional arrangements by the UK and EU halt the implementation of your contingency plans?

Those who answered ‘yes’ to the above question broken down by size of company (excluding “don’t knows”):

  • 0-49 employees: 39.4%
  • 50-249 employees: 18.8%
  • 250-499 employees: 42.6%
  • 500-4999 employees: 37.1%
  • 5000+ employees: 75.2% 
Original article link: http://www.cbi.org.uk/news/no-more-brexit-soap-opera-time-to-unite-to-achieve-best-deal/

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