The recent historic European Union referendum result has huge implications for the UK’s 4.7 million self-employed workers and they’ll be wondering what it means for them.
The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) believes this new era can and must be taken as an opportunity for the UK.
CEO of the organisation Chris Bryce says that priorities should be new global trading arrangements, cutting burdensome regulation on small and micro-businesses and ensuring that Britain has the most flexible and attractive economy in the world.
‘With these priorities, the UK can be a place where freelancing and contracting can thrive,’ he adds.
‘New circumstances always bring new opportunities for freelancers. We should be optimistic about the future and IPSE will continue to push the importance and value freelancers bring to our economy.’
Katie Shapley, managing director of The Organisers, which provides corporates with personal assistants, says Brexit is ‘wonderful news for the country’.
‘So the pound goes down for a short period; our exports are cheaper, [meaning] more sales,’ she adds.
‘[There will be] less red tape and more power to entrepreneurialism. The future is very bright indeed and we should brace ourselves for the short-term pain and look forward to the long-term gain.’
Stuart Mackintosh, director of OpusVL, which supplies open source business management software adds, ‘Although we expect some disruption to our customers in the short term, we hope that we can benefit from opportunities created by the outcome of the referendum and expect that there will be an increase in customers seeking specialist Open Source technical services from within the UK.
‘We fully support a period of calm consideration whilst a future plan is devised by the government.’
Some are of the opinion that Brexit will not have a material impact on their overall business.
Kris Ingham, founder of Rejuvenation Water says that while his exports to Europe will become more competitive in the short term with currency depreciation and other foreign drinks brands that import in the UK being hit, this will be offset by the uncertainty that could have impact upon consumer spending.
‘My personal view that the biggest impact will be felt within the EU and Europe, especially within the periphery countries, as the UK is providing a template to the rest of Europe.
‘It will be a bumpy ride for all involved in the short term but the longer term effects will be negligible for small businesses in the UK.’
