Small business worry over Brexit
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
HIGHLAND businesses are worried about the impact of Brexit a new study claims, with many relying on EU staff as a key part of their workforces.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) found 41 per cent of businesses in the region have staff from EU countries - compared to a Scotland-wide 26 per cent.
The figure is even higher in the tourism and leisure industry where EU workers make up 46 per cent of Highland staff.
The FSB said: “For employers with EU staff the concern about post-Brexit arrangements could lead to slower levels of business growth (40 per cent) and business closures (11 per cent) if their EU workforce was required to leave Scotland.
“For the wider small business community the business impact is notable: 18 per cent would find it more difficult to grow their business and seven per cent would be less profitable.”
The FSB recommend a number of measures to help businesses through Brexit including calling for a guarantee that EU citizens currently working in Scotland will be allowed to remain, and a transition period after the UK leaves the EU.
Thomas Machnik who owns cleaning company Justom Ltd in Inverness said: “I moved to Scotland from Poland to work in hotels and then saw the opportunity to start Justom. That was only possible because the UK was a member of the EU and I worry that Brexit will mean fewer EU citizens coming to Scotland to start a business.”
