Real Business was invited by Sage to attend its EU Debate in Newcastle, where it had assembled an audience of local SME owners and leaders to gauge their thoughts on the referendum.
Ahead of the debate itself, audience members were asked to reveal whether they were keen to remain in the EU.
This was the outcome.
Business leaders share EU referendum thoughts at #SageDebateEU what do you say #EUref #Brexit #EUreferendum pic.twitter.com/ldYWIxOTuI
” Real Business (@Real_Business) June 13, 2016
As you can see, at 63 per cent, an overwhelming majority said they wanted to remain in the EU.
However, by the end of the debate, while the remain camp was still dominating, leave had gained more support and there were fewer people sitting on the fence.
The #SageDebateEU has wrapped and the votes have changed slightly is your mind made up pic.twitter.com/o2np83pKkZ
” Real Business (@Real_Business) June 13, 2016
But what prompted them to change their minds Here are the key comments made that we captured during the debate.
Remain
Britain is in a deep and meaningful relationship with the EU like a marriage, you should remain and try to repair it #SageDebateEU #EUref
” Real Business (@Real_Business) June 13, 2016
You can’t half be a club member and half not the benefits of EU massively outweigh issues #SageDebateEU #EUref #EUreferendum
” Real Business (@Real_Business) June 13, 2016
What happens to SME funding if we leave the EU” There arent any facts about the future. The answer is we dont know. #SageDebateEU #EUref
” Real Business (@Real_Business) June 13, 2016
Do we believe, among 500m people, we don’t have enough talent to choose from in the EU” #SageDebateEU #EUref #SMEs #HR
” Real Business (@Real_Business) June 13, 2016
We havent negotiated a trade deal on our own in 40 years. We dont matter so much when it’s just the 60m of us. #SageDebateEU #EUref
” Real Business (@Real_Business) June 13, 2016
Ripples of a Brexit would run ten, 20, 30 years #SageDebateEU #EUref #Brexit
” Real Business (@Real_Business) June 13, 2016
Leave
Most countries have better trade agreements than EU if we stepped out, we can do trade deals all around the world #SageDebateEU #EUref
” Real Business (@Real_Business) June 13, 2016
What happens to SME funding if we leave the EU” We would have large sums to replace grants you get #SageDebateEU #EUref
” Real Business (@Real_Business) June 13, 2016
If we take control of money, theres about 10bn-12bn available can enhance grants or infrastructure such as roads/broadband #SageDebateEU
” Real Business (@Real_Business) June 13, 2016
If Brexit occurred, what would the north east of UK look like in five years Stronger and wealthier #SageDebateEU #EUref
” Real Business (@Real_Business) June 13, 2016
We’ll have done free trade deals with the US and Canada, Australia and New Zealand, probably India, and talking to China #SageDebateEU
” Real Business (@Real_Business) June 13, 2016
Ive no idea how NE region will look in five years, but what I know is Treasury forecast is most bogus forecast I’ve ever seen #SageDebateEU
” Real Business (@Real_Business) June 13, 2016
How do you feel after that
If you’re still undecided, David Van Der Velde, MD of small digital agency Consult and Design gives three main reasons that business leaders should vote to remain on the next page.
David Van Der Velde is managing director of small digital agency Consult and Design, which has operations in Newcastle and Sunderland.
Employing eight full-time members of staff, the company trades in the UK but half of its business, which has been running for over ten years, comes from overseas across the EU, but also the Middle East and Africa.
We have a staff made of 4-5 different EU nationalities. We do a lot of trade internationally with EU countries and constitutions. If it were the other way around, it would be very problematic.
Here are Van Der Veldes three recommendations on why we should remain.
(1) Economic
From our business point of view, we dont know what will happen if we left the EU. We dont know how that would impact contracts we have with European partners and clients.
How would leaving impact the best people we want from within the EU” We currently have staff made of four-five different EU nationalities. We have some great staff and one of the great things about the company is that we have 100 per cent staff retention. We invest a lot in our team and my concern would be that some members who come from different parts of Europe may find it difficult to stay, which would be a huge loss.
In terms of the wider economy, I think it’s absolutely crucial we remain part of the single market. The benefits it brings us are huge, the number of tariffs and the way bureaucracies can trade and travel we would experience lots more problems and red tape that we dont need if we leave.
(2) Social values
Its very important we look after our workforce and help communities. We have some support in that respect from the EU, what with working time directives, ensuring people arent forced to work beyond a certain number of hours.
Would we trust the current Westminster government to provide the same level of protection to communities and workers that we get from the EU” I dont know.
(3) Peace
We havent had a war in Western Europe for 70 years. Up until 70 years ago, people accepted that war was a part of life and peace was the exception. Weve had a couple of generations now that havent known war and that is pretty amazing, particularly if you think about the millions of people that died.
A big part of that is that were bound together with the interests of these countries that have been at war with each other for hundreds of years, and it is no longer in our interest to fight each other.
Now we find ourselves at a time when theres an economic downturn and people are dissatisfied with politicians, some people are looking to the far left and the far right. What we need to do at this time is remember our history, learn from it and work together to create the future we want.
Publicity and marketing of leave and remain
The problem with the campaigns is that you have an increasing amount of rhetoric on both sides and people find it very hard to believe the things theyre being told. Theres a lot of misinformation and scaremongering it’s not a reasoned sensible debate.
Its not the time to have this debate, were having this referendum at the wrong time were having it in the worst economic downturn weve had in a generation and a time when people are really struggling.
And this is not a decision for a government for five years, this is a once in a lifetime kind of decision. It worries me that people dont have their information and theyre going to make this very big decision that will impact their children and childrens children without really understanding the implications. Theres so much uncertainty around this.
Closing statement
To northeast business people, the EU redistributes a huge amount of money from the richer parts of Europe to the poorer parts. The northeast is a huge net beneficiary in Europe. It would be a massive problem for northeast business if we lost membership of the EU act in the interest of this region and vote to remain.
Fresh from Richard Branson launching a Vote Remain campaign ahead of the EU referendum on 23 June, football star-cum-model David Beckham has backed the Virgin businessman and sounded off his reasons in a unique fashion.
