The Analysis Editor’s Letter


CCRInteractive changes date as Brexit uncertainty looms


Stephen Kiely Editor, CCRMagazine stephen@ccrmagazine.co.uk


Amidst ongoing political turmoil, and threats of continued disruption and even violence in central London over Brexit, we have agreed to postpone this year’s annual conference, CCRInteractive, until June 2020. We feel very strongly that we have a duty


of care for our readers and supporters, to ensure that we provide you with an event where you have the best opportunity to get the value you deserve from a day like CCRInteractive. We all have to live with the reality of the political situation as it is and, once we could not be sure that everyone would be able to get that value from the day, the need to make a decision was clear. Some sponsors and delegates have


expressed to us their nervousness over the potential for disruption for a credit, collections, and enforement industry event in London at this time, so we have had to make the decision to postpone. We are now hugely looking forward to a


fresh start for CCRInteractive in June 2020. We have a number of interesting new ideas that we hope will add value to the day and we will now bring these forward. Hopefully, by the time 2020 comes around, final decisions will have been made on the UK and European Union’s (EU) future together and we will all be able to make progress. The rescheduling also allows us to move the


The report highlighted how – contrary to


many claims – the EU lags behind the UK in seeking to prevent the worst effects of Brexit. And, although businesses have already


spent billions on contingency planning for no deal, they remain hampered by unclear advice, timelines, cost, and complexity. The report found larger firms, particularly


in regulated areas such as financial services, have well-thought-through contingency plans in place, but smaller firms are less prepared. Josh Hardie, deputy-director general of


the CBI, said: “Businesses are desperate to move beyond Brexit. They have huge belief in the UK and getting a deal will open many doors that have been closed by uncertainty. Both sides are underprepared, so it is in all our interests. “But, until this becomes a reality, all must


Hopefully, by the time 2020 comes around, final decisions will have been made on the UK and EU’s future together and we will all be able to make progress


We have a number of interesting new ideas that we hope will add value to the day and we will now bring these


event to the Summer months, away from the rather congested Autumn ‘conference season’. As I sit down to write this letter, the political situation is still


completely up in the air: will there be a snap general election, will moves to prevent a no-deal Brexit be successful, will they be reversed after any election? Nobody knows the answer to these for sure and this uncertainty and confusion is having real-world consequences. Last month, a major trade association put forward 200 suggestions


to help accelerate no-deal preparations for UK, EU, and companies. The CBI’s report found that neither side is ready for no deal on


31 October. While it said that the UK’s preparations to date are welcome, the unprecedented nature of Brexit meant some aspects could not be mitigated.


September 2019 forward.


prepare to leave without one. It is time to review outdated technical notices, launch a communications campaign for every firm in the country, and rigorously test all government plans and IT systems. The EU must come to the table and commit, at the very least, to matching the UK’s sensible mitigations. Failure to do so will hurt all our economies.” Meanwhile, Stephen Jones, chief executive


of UK Finance, added: “The finance sector has long been focused on contingency plans to minimise the impact of a no-deal scenario on customers, and continues to work closely with the UK government and


regulators to ensure the necessary legislation and regulations are in place to minimise disruption and assure continuity of service to customers. The sector’s financial resilience to any economic shock is unprecedented.” So now is the time for all parties to take action – even if that means


making hard decisions, as we have had to do. Further action from EU authorities and member states to assure continuity of cross- border financial business for customers transacting from the UK into the EU and from the EU into the UK would help reduce uncertainties whatever the outcome on the negotiations. It is time to get to work! Enjoy the magazine!


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