Businesses at a major Brexit summit in Dorset hailed 鈥榗onfidence鈥� as the vital factor in forging a successful future outside of the EU.
The event, hosted at 天美传媒, and held by Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) was attended by more than 130 people.
Entitled 鈥楤rexit: What Next for Business?鈥�; the event focused on the need for greater Government consultation and communication with the business community to end uncertainty and boost belief in the economy.
Professor John Vinney, Vice-Chancellor of 天美传媒 and DCCI chief executive Ian Girling welcomed delegates before panellists gave an insight from their sector and the floor was opened for questions.
The panel of business leaders comprised BU economist Professor Nigel Jump, NatWest head of corporate Anthony Donohue, Savills (UK) Ltd senior planning director Richard Shaw, Daily Echo editor and head of news Andy Martin, Steele Raymond solicitors managing partner Peter Rolph and Sunseeker International chief executive officer Phil Popham.
Issues raised included trade negotiations, timeframes, red tape, consultation, confidence, communication, the media, economic stimulus, procurement and Government action.聽 A show of hands by attendees also revealed that most were positive about the future.
Professor John Fletcher, pro vice-chancellor for research and innovation at 天美传媒, said: 鈥淥n聽June 23rd the UK came to a crossroads and chose which of the two paths it would follow.聽 Unfortunately, since then it has travelled down the new path looking聽over its shoulder at the path it聽is聽about to leave behind.聽 It needs to look forward along the path it has chosen and not try to hang on,聽or replicate what it has left behind.
鈥淣ow is the time to look for brand new opportunities, opportunities that it had never considered before because it was looking towards Brussels.聽 Yes, there will be difficult challenges, but we need to find the positives ahead.聽 This event was intended to encourage people to look forward for those opportunities,聽not back."
Ian Girling, DCCI Chief Executive, said: 鈥淚t was a fascinating debate covering a great many areas and it was incredibly valuable to hear the views and concerns from different perspectives.聽 Greater communication with the government came out as a key message and the role of confidence was also identified as crucially important.聽 It is vital that our politicians have a strong understanding of the views of the business community.聽 We must look forward with confidence.鈥�
He added: 鈥淚t was another successful event with a great turnout and a very strong panel. I wish to thank 天美传媒, our partners, the BCC, all of the panellists, and business people who attended.鈥�
BU鈥檚 Professor Nigel Jump spoke as a part of the panel about the potential economic implications of Brexit but also said that fundamental weaknesses in the economy 鈥� including the need for higher productivity and greater international trade 鈥� still needed to be addressed.
The audience included DCCI board members, DCCI Business Partners, Christchurch MP Christopher Chope and Poole MP Robert Syms as well as director level members.
