Ahead
of Theresa May and Government triggering Article 50 tomorrow (29 March), a
survey by The Engineer in collaboration with Subcon 2017 has revealed a marked
increase in the number of manufacturing and engineering companies who believe
Brexit will be good for business and industry.
When
asked if they think their company will have a stronger future once Britain
exits the EU, 40 per cent of the 269 businesses polled answered yes compared to
14 per cent 11 months ago. The level of
uncertainty has doubled, however, with 14 per cent of businesses unsure what
impact leaving the EU will have compared to 7 per cent in 2016.
The
survey also asked if businesses think UK manufacturing and engineering – as a
whole – will have a stronger future once Britain is no longer part of the EU.
45 per cent answered yes, compared to 30 per cent last year – an increase of 50
per cent.
A
new question for 2017 asked if business and industry will suffer if Brexit impacts
free movement of labour and responses were split down the middle: 46 per cent
believe it will have an impact; 47 per cent believe it will make no difference.
Gordon
Kirk, Event Director, Subcon, commented: “It’s encouraging to hear that
industry is feeling confident and positive about the future and our poll
certainly supports that in relation to Brexit.
“It’s
interesting to see the significant sway in opinion since we last polled
businesses 11 months ago, especially as the UK is still at least two years away
from breaking away completely from the European Union. The complex process of
negotiating new trade agreements has not begun and the full impact of Brexit is
yet to be felt, so it will be very interesting to see whether confidence continues
to grow at the same rate over the next 12 months.”
SURVEY RESULTS IN FULL
2016: Do you think Britain should leave or remain in the EU?
Leave 37%
Remain 50%
I don’t know 13%
2016: Do you think your company will have a stronger future if Britain
leaves the EU?
Yes 14%
No 79%
I don’t know 7%
2017: Do you think your
company will have a stronger future now that Britain is leaving the European
Union?
Yes 40%
No 46%
I don’t know 14%
2017: Has your opinion
changed in the last 12 months?
Yes 16%
No 83%
I don’t know 1%
2016: Do
you think the UK manufacturing/engineer industry will have a stronger future if
Britain leaves in the EU?
Yes 30%
No 52%
I don’t know 8%
2017: Do you think the
UK manufacturing/engineering industry will have a stronger future now that
Britain is leaving the European Union?
Yes 45%
No 41%
I don’t know 14%
2017: Has your opinion
changed in the last 12 months?
Yes 20%
No 80%
2017: Do you think your
business/industry will suffer if Brexit impacts free movement of labour?
Yes 46%
No 47%
I don’t know 8%
Subcon is the UK’s only dedicated event for contract and subcontract
manufacturing. It covers all sectors and technologies and allows subcontract
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The Advanced Manufacturing Show is the biennial event for machine tools,
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The three shows run together at the NEC, Birmingham, from 6 to 8 June
2017.
Register now at www.subconshow.co.uk.
