Businesses in the North East are being urged to prepare for Brexit by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
In association with the CBI and Newcastle-based law firm Ward Hadaway, the team at the North East LEP is hosting a free briefing event called The Impact of Brexit on Business, at which speakers from each of the organisations will provide local, national, legal and practical perspectives on the changes Brexit will bring for the region’s businesses.
Colin Bell, Business Growth Director at the North East LEP, said: “The reality is that we don’t yet know the minutiae of how Brexit will affect business but that doesn’t mean that we can’t begin to prepare for the changes it will bring.
“The key question therefore is how can businesses best prepare for what’s largely unknown? We’ll be talking more about managing risk, developing a flexible and adaptive culture, and advising business leaders on where they can go for advice as the implications of Brexit become clearer.”
The free seminar, which takes place on Wednesday 21 June, is aimed at senior management in the private sector.
Sarah Glendinning, Regional Director of the CBI, will talk about the national perspective on Brexit, Colin Bell will give an update on the North East perspective, and Colin Hewitt, Partner and Head of Commercial at Ward Hadaway, will talk about legal and practical considerations.
“This event will be particularly important for any companies trading within Europe or looking to establish markets overseas,” said Colin Bell.
“Having the ability to manage and lead your business and its people through change is going to be critical and it’s never too early to start the process of planning for this.”
Colin Hewitt from Ward Hadaway said: “There has been an awful lot of talk about Brexit since the vote to leave the EU last June, obviously many businesses are unsure about what it will mean for them and how they can best prepare for what is to come.
“The general election result has of course thrown further uncertainty into the mix, with a potential change in the approach to negotiations.
“Despite this, there are some issues that businesses can start to address and some practical steps which companies can take now in order to prepare themselves for what the Brexit negotiations may bring.
“Attending this seminar will give senior managers a useful overview of some of the key issues, where we currently stand, what they can expect over the coming months and what they can start to do now to be ready to meet the challenges.”
The North East LEP will be holding regular events on Brexit in association with Ward Hadaway and the CBI throughout the period of the negotiations.
The Impact of Brexit on Business takes place on Wednesday 21 June, from 8am to 10.30am at Ward Hadaway on Newcastle’s Quayside. There are still some places available which can be booked via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-seminar-the-impact-of-brexit-on-business-tickets-34477801031