Brexit has damaged us, say businesses 10 years on

Business owners in Worcestershire have shared their frustrations 10 years on from the Brexit vote, with one saying he feels like "black sheep" among European counterparts.

Some firms told the BBC it was easier to trade with America and New Zealand, despite the European Union being on Britain's doorstep. Others said challenges had become less of an issue over time.

A government spokesman said the UK and EU would hold a special summit on 22 July aimed at fostering a closer working relationship.

For Cary Holmes, who runs Nootro Labs, a food manufacturer in Pershore, it cannot come soon enough. "I think within the EU there's a taboo about working with businesses over here," he said.

Holmes, who employs 14 people at his manufacturing site, said small companies had been hit hard by the decision to leave the EU.

He said: "Ever since Brexit we've been treated like black sheep - all I know is, a French person seldom buys from me, a German person seldom buys from me, for example.

"I'm only talking about myself. But I think it's because there's a taboo about working with Brits - we get some orders from EU member states, but they are not big orders.

"I've noticed in dialogue with various (business) founders, CEOs, and people at board level who are operating in the member states, they are quite protectionist about working within the EU.

"We used to have a giant empire that spanned the world - to see what it's become today is heart breaking."

Scott Garrett, who owns VitaVoice, a supplement firm in Kidderminster, said he had decided to abandon a potential export deal into Germany due to the volume of red tape.

"We sell a product that benefits anyone who uses their voice a lot - teachers, singers, call centre workers - and the UK is probably 90 per cent of our market," he said.

"It's 10 times easier to sell our product in the USA and New Zealand, despite the EU being on our doorstep.

"For us, we're on a 'scaling up' journey at the moment - but leaving the EU means it's our lowest priority in terms of trying to get more trade.

"We did have a German sales channel set up, but we put it on ice about a year ago, purely because of all the red tape and regulations we had to put up with. It became far too hard."

He also said he felt the whole Brexit debate "ignored" small traders.

"Obviously we do want to trade with the EU, but we've got a limited budget," he added.

"Looking back at Brexit, I don't think we were told what the impact would be on small businesses."

Some other companies approached by the BBC said the challenges of trading with the EU had become "less relevant" as time went on.

Charles Annable, from Brockway Carpets in Kidderminster, said: "Most of our exports go to the United States - that was the case before (Brexit) too.

"It's not really affected us in terms of our product."

Neil Westwood, who runs Magic Whiteboard in Worcester, an online stationary business, said: "We'll be celebrating 20 years of the business next week. We just have to do a customs declaration now (when he sells to the EU)."

A government spokesperson said the 22 July summit with the EU would focus on driving down supermarket prices and cutting red tape to help businesses.

They added: "We live in a post-Brexit world, and it is time we focus on building a closer, forward-looking relationship with Europe that works for the British people.

"We are working to secure an agri-food deal that will add up to £5.1 billion a year to our economy, and slash the costly red tape that only helps drive up supermarket prices.

"At the upcoming UK-EU Summit on 22 July, we will deliver an ambitious package of deals to boost trade, cut red tape and create opportunities for young people."

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