We absolutely need more discussion of this, there are huge issues falling out of this.
For instance, all the cladding companies are in Germany or the partitioning companies in Italy, so what would happen to projects – first in the gap between an out vote and the actual exit, and then in the period between exit and a new trade agreement? What happens when we have over 250 buildings going through the planning system that all need cladding?
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From speaking to American banks here in London, we know their internal teams are looking at it [EU exit], and given the importance of the US banking sector to the UK, it’s massively important. Most US banks head up their EMEA activities out of London, but if you’re not in Europe, do you then need a sub-base in France or Germany?
Clients will always find ways of delaying decisions, Brexit will be one thing [that causes delays to decision-making], and the American election will be another – it’s not shaping up to be a ‘business as usual election’. So we’re expecting a slowdown and then a bounce after the US election.
Steven Hale, director, Crofton Design
I am generally on the “stay in” camp, primarily because I feel that it gives stability to what has for centuries been a conflicted continent and think there is a risk of war within a generation if the EU dissolves, which the UK leaving will I feel make more likely.
From a business point of view, I think that we have such a shortage of engineers with 10-15 years’ experience, that despite the fact that we have begun the process of investing in our young people, we are at least 10 years away from reaping the benefit of this investment as it takes 10 years to train an engineer.
In the interim period we will need these guys [from EU countries] to come in as middle managers to support our businesses or we will have no one to manage or mentor our young people and it will be much harder.
The idea that it will be easier to recruit from non EU countries if we are out, as put forward by [minister of state for employment] Priti Patel today, just does not stack up. The reason a lot of the popular press want to be out is that they want lower immigration so there will be pressure if we are out to make it more difficult for EU nationals to come to the UK rather than pressure to make it easier for non-EU nationals to come to the UK, as she was suggesting.
Dayle Bayliss MCIOB, Dayle Bayliss Associates
We really rely heavily on skills from the EU, so that’s a worrying thing if a Brexit were to become a reality. You also have to look at the practicalities of what might happen in the interim if we leave, how will it affect our industry, the currency market and other variables. There are a lot of unknowns.
I’m sure there are people in favour of the exit but have they thought how such a market will work? Also I don’t think as a country the UK doesn’t promote its own infrastructure and projects a lot, so I think there is a lot of influence [from Brussels] that is slightly hidden, and all of the EU benefits are sometimes not as clear.
Gerard Graham MCIOB, business development manager, Martin & Hamilton, and senior vice-chair CIOB in Ireland, Northern Centre
From my perspective it is probably better staying in the EU, particularly in the construction business. Within the EU there is access to so many markets and resources and it’s a lot more difficult if you’re outside this circle. For the industry to work you need to allow firms to sell and enter Continental Europe.
From my own perspective, and looking at it from Belfast’s perspective, we do a lot of work in Dublin, so if the UK were to exit this could cause lots of practical problems for us. Also, looking at Northern Ireland as a whole, we’re already in the most westerly part of Europe, and a “Brexit” would make things a whole lot more difficult again.
Rob Hooker MCIOB, founding director, Greendale Construction
My general feeling is that we should stay in the club. For the construction sector it makes sense from an economic and business perspective. But I do think it might actually be a very difficult decision for the general public to take fully onboard so the future is a bit unknown.
How it will affect smaller businesses like us we will have to see, but I suspect that bigger companies like BAM or Bouygues would be in a much better place and have the infrastructure in place for any changes.
