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EU REFERENDUM: SHOULD WE STAY OR SHOULD WE GO?
With just weeks to go before the crucial European referendum, businesses in the county appear narrowly divided over whether to remain in or exit the EU. While they will not actually have a say on the issue, the public vote on 23rd June will have a significant impact upon them whatever the outcome. This will be especially the case for East Kent firms, being the trading area physically closest to Europe – which has built-up considerable trading partnerships with the continent.
Accountancy firm in global spotlight
A Whitstable accountancy firm has gained global attention after featuring in an international
publication titled The World’s Most Inspiring Accountants. PH Accountancy features as one of 57 accountancies from around the world in the book that focuses on companies that have made a difference to their communities. It also features case studies on their work, key learning and facts, the variety of services an accountant offers and advice on building an accounting firm. Andy Page, Director of PH Accountancy, said: “We were really
chuffed to be approached by the publishers. We had to meet their criteria before making it in and they were impressed with what we did.”
Among the main arguments put forward by the Remain campaign has been that the economy’s stability is better kept by staying in the EU, giving the country access to the single market of around 500 million consumers. However, the Vote Leave campaign has responded that Britain would be free to pursue its own trade deals with the rest of the world without having to first gain European clearance as is presently the case. Those in favour of so-called ‘Brexit’ have dismissed
claims from the Remain camp that it could take up to a decade for the UK to renegotiate trading relations with the 27 other nations presently within the EU if the public ended up voting to leave. According to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), the number of companies expressing support for remaining in the EU had fallen 6% to 54%, with its latest polls showing a very tight margin between those for and against.
While the BCC studies found that larger corporations favoured staying within the EU, those most likely to back leaving were small and medium-sized enterprises with around 10 staff or less – which form a notably large section of the Kent business community. Alison Parmar, of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), believed many small firms were still uncertain on whether staying or remaining in Europe would be beneficial.
“In a snap poll from over 4,000 small business
Lock & Leave: storage at its best Lock & Leave self storage, on the Marshwood Business Park – the ideal
location for small businesses – in central Canterbury, offers a wide choice of services ranging from drive-up 24/7 storage solutions, offices, mailboxes and is now a DHL Service Point for all your deliveries/despatch. There is a special offer running at present for the external drive-up units. • Contact Lock & Leave at Marshwood Business Park, Marshwood Close, Canterbury CT1 1DX by email at
istore@lockandleave.co.uk, call 01227 470700 or visit the website
www.lockandleave.co.uk/kent/
owners, FSB research found that 42% of the small business vote on the UK’s membership of the EU on 23rd June could still be swayed. As part of the survey, FSB members were also asked how informed they feel about the EU referendum. Just over half (52%) of members surveyed said they do not feel informed about the EU referendum,” said Alison, adding: “When asked what members needed more information on, almost half (48%) said the economic impact on the UK, 38% noted they needed more detail on the administrative burden of complying with regulation and 33% asked for more detail on the cost of EU membership.”
The Canterbury INDEX
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