Council urges local businesses to brace for Brexit

Swindon Borough Council is encouraging local businesses to put plans in place to ensure they are not adversely affected by Brexit.                  

As things stand, the UK is set to leave the European Union on 29 March 2019. What this means for the country’s future trading relationships is still largely unknown, but businesses are being advised to prepare for any changes that may result.

In September, the council resolved to respond to the challenges posed by Brexit with the aim of ensuring the borough is well placed to exploit any economic opportunities that may arise in the future.

As part of that commitment, the council is urging companies to make full use of a website created by the Government to help businesses in their Brexit preparations.

Councillor Oliver Donachie, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Prosperity, said: “With a number of large multinational companies having their headquarters in Swindon, as well as a flourishing small business and start-up community, the council considers it vitally important to help businesses prepare for what at this stage could potentially be a ‘no deal’ Brexit.

“The Government’s new advice website is extremely useful and I am sure it will act as a valuable tool for businesses as we slowly go about extricating ourselves from the European Union.

“We know just how important it is to keep Swindon economically competitive and local employers have highlighted the need for a highly skilled workforce to achieve this. Working closely with schools and colleges, the council has already taken steps to promote apprenticeships and increase the skills base in the borough.

“We are also working very closely with businesses large and small on a daily basis to ensure we continue to see high levels of employment and continued economic prosperity.”

To use the Government’s website, log on to https://bit.ly/2FvGety.

The Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership has also published information to help businesses prepare for Brexit, which is available here: https://growthhub.swlep.co.uk/topics/brexit.