Damien

America is a far bigger country but as it happens they're not too happy with their immigration policy either. Still the point remains that for them finding talented staff from a population of 318 million is easier that finding talented staff from a population of 64 million.

We can 'train people up' as suggested previously but we haven't so far that isn't the fault of the European Union although I am sure somebody will find some reason as it why it is.

Our rival for this industry though isn't Silicon Valley, for now, but Berlin and for all the tropes about Britain being great the ability to recruit across Europe and operate across Europe with little friction will be an advantage to them. One of the problems some companies face is that when moving into a new country they need to have a bank account and registered premises in that country. Technologies companies don't really have to work like these if they're not selling services or products with physical components. At the moment pan-European expansion is easy. Making it less so will not help it.

This isn't yet a massive industry for the UK, and it certainly shouldn't be used as a main argument to stay in, but it's an example of some real problems that could come out of it. It's always met with claims that it will be fine, that we've operated outside of Europe before and do what America does (which is expand into Europe slowly and set up a HQ, usually in Dublin, for across the EU). It's not actually clear what would happen practically though about from this mythical trade deal that will cover everything and be in our favor.

We were asking for reasons to stay in and there are real industries that benefit from the EU and real concerns as to what would happen to them.