Cornwall Chamber of Commerce hosted a special event last week in an attempt to provide some much-needed clarity to what a post-Brexit future might look like.
The chamber invited a wide cross-section of Cornish businesses to the conference held at Pendennis Castle on Friday (Sep 21).
Mike Spicer, director of research and economics at the British Chambers of Commerce, offered practical takeaways for delegates and the wider business community, while Council Leader, Adam Paynter, focused on Cornwall’s post-Brexit future and the Council’s New Frontiers plan.
Other speakers on the day included Cornwall’s EU representative Katie Cavell, UKIP International Trade spokesperson Lord Dartmouth, and Liberal Democrat EU committee member Lord Teverson.
Cornwall Chamber CEO, Kim Conchie, said: “The future has always been uncertain. Brexit, of course, poses a new level of uncertainty to businesses as we enter uncharted waters – but there will also be opportunities. I strongly feel the top-notch speakers at the chamber’s Brexit event added some clarity, cleared the verbiage and highlighted the facts rather than the partisan bluster as the big day nears.”
The event coincided with the release of survey results conducted by the chamber: ‘The Impact of Brexit on Cornwall Businesses’. It revealed 83% of businesses believe Brexit will have a negative impact on Cornwall overall, with 42% of businesses admitting they have delayed or decreased future investments in Cornwall compared to 4% of firms which have increased investment.
