Britain outside the EU

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Isn't the bigger opportunity now for EU companies to sell in a market of 448m people without the competition from UK companies and to seize those orders from UK companies who do not find it economic to trade in the EU now? And I'm not sure doubling up on warehousing in the UK and EU is traditionally seen as a benefit to the environment.

Hence surely the UK Guvmin advice for UK companies to establish EU entities? Have I misunderstood something?

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

Hence surely the UK Guvmin advice for UK companies to establish EU entities? Have I misunderstood something?

But is it?

The DIT said it was not government policy to advise UK firms to set up EU hubs and that it was "ensuring all officials are properly conveying" the right information.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55786974

[Pierre]

The setting up of EU hub/subsidiaries etc was mooted immediately after the vote, all the big players will have done it. A lawyer friend of mine said his firm did it immediately.

I’m pretty sure any firm that took legal advice after the vote and until year end will have been told the same.

It’s been four and a half years, nobody should have been caught off guard.

Originally Posted by Pierre

The setting up of EU hub/subsidiaries etc was mooted immediately after the vote, all the big players will have done it. A lawyer friend of mine said his firm did it immediately.

I’m pretty sure any firm that took legal advice after the vote and until year end will have been told the same.

It’s been four and a half years, nobody should have been caught off guard.

It's been four and a half years since December 30th 2020?

Time has flown...

Nobody really knew what was required until a deal was agreed (and even now we are still finding out things) - large companies can afford to mitigate possibilities by investing in options to reduce the possible risks that may happen.

Small/medium companies who are already suffering due to COVID couldn't afford to spend large amounts setting up companies/premises/staffing that they might not need.

Originally Posted by Pierre

It’s been four and a half years, nobody should have been caught off guard.

This.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Hugh

It's been four and a half years since December 30th 2020?

Time has flown...

Nobody really knew what was required until a deal was agreed (and even now we are still finding out things) - large companies can afford to mitigate possibilities by investing in options to reduce the possible risks that may happen.

Small/medium companies who are already suffering due to COVID couldn't afford to spend large amounts setting up companies/premises/staffing that they might not need.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by Pierre

The setting up of EU hub/subsidiaries etc was mooted immediately after the vote, all the big players will have done it. A lawyer friend of mine said his firm did it immediately.

I’m pretty sure any firm that took legal advice after the vote and until year end will have been told the same.

It’s been four and a half years, nobody should have been caught off guard.

This entrepreneurial spirit stuff doesn't sound all that to me.

Originally Posted by Hugh

It's been four and a half years since December 30th 2020?

Did you mean Dec 31st ?
Of course, no one knew the date in advance at all, it was a complete surprise to everyone when we suddenly left.

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Only if Point = Remainer.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by Mick

Only if Point = Remainer.

It's undeniable fact that some of these processes were only clearly defined once we had a deal. I don't see what voting remain or leave had to do with it.

Surely we should be supporting these businesses to find solutions rather than rehashing 2016?

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Hugh

It's been four and a half years since December 30th 2020?

Time has flown...

Nobody really knew what was required until a deal was agreed (and even now we are still finding out things) - large companies can afford to mitigate possibilities by investing in options to reduce the possible risks that may happen.

Small/medium companies who are already suffering due to COVID couldn't afford to spend large amounts setting up companies/premises/staffing that they might not need.

Come on Hugh, you’re smarter than this.

After the referendum result, everybody should have been planning for a no deal Brexit and taking advice on what they would have to do to continue trading in that scenario.

Any deal or arrangement post would be great.

From what I’ve picked up from you and your career, you’ve worked at big companies and managed big projects. Would the companies you have worked for sat with their thumbs up their bottoms for 4.5 years? And suddenly plead ignorance on Jan 1st?

[jfman]

Originally Posted by Pierre

Come on Hugh, you’re smarter than this.

After the referendum result, everybody should have been planning for a no deal Brexit and taking advice on what they would have to do to continue trading in that scenario.

Any deal or arrangement post would be great.

From what I’ve picked up from you and your career, you’ve worked at big companies and managed big projects. Would the companies you have worked for sat with their thumbs up their bottoms for 4.5 years? And suddenly plead ignorance on Jan 1st?

Why should a business (all businesses) make unnecessary preparations (and incur costs) because the Government would rather work to an arbitrary deadline? An alternative provide them assurance of a short transition period where they ould offer clear instructions and work with them to design processes.

The Government also published a deal - May's deal - that was official Government policy.

Surely all this entrepreneurial spirit shouldn't be wasted on nugatory administrative processes for circumstances that could be in the control of Government but who choose not to take that opportunity?

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by jfman

Why should a business (all businesses) make unnecessary preparations (and incur costs) because the Government would rather work to an arbitrary deadline?

What ‘arbitrary’ deadline would that be?

It was written in EU legislation that there would be a 2 yr transition period into whatever scenario we transitioned into. That was extended several times. Until we reached an exit agreement.

We then had an exit agreement that had a 1 yr period that expired on 31st Dec 2020.

Nothing arbitrary about any of it.

[jfman]

That's literally an arbitrary deadline. It's not done for anyone's benefit. Those are just numbers plucked out the air.

You're also ignoring the option to extend the transition period. It could easily have been drawn up into and agreement to have an interim period (say 3 months) to allow businesses to prepare, familiarise themselves with paperwork, processes etc.

You can't in some thread seriously argue that businesses should be given every chance to survive by easing lockdown and then on the other that they should, at short notice, be given additional burdens after numerous, contradictory, positions by Government policies in the preceding four years.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by jfman

That's literally an arbitrary deadline. It's not done for anyone's benefit. Those are just numbers plucked out the air.

You're also ignoring the option to extend the transition period. It could easily have been drawn up into and agreement to have an interim period (say 3 months) to allow businesses to prepare, familiarise themselves with paperwork, processes etc.

You can't in some thread seriously argue that businesses should be given every chance to survive by easing lockdown and then on the other that they should, at short notice, be given additional burdens after numerous, contradictory, positions by Government policies in the preceding four years.

You're letting yourself down there, jfman. Apart from the intial oxymoron, the dates were hard and fast.

Your final paragraph describes disconnected matters. Indeed the quiet period would have been the time for businesses to get into gear.