Help Influence the Next Stage of Brexit Negotiations

Our government engagement in 2020 has started well, with the BEIS Brexit team informing us that speedy and detailed REC feedback – including your case studies – has led to recruitment being high on the government’s Brexit agenda.

However, our work does not stop here. Despite much of the rhetoric, Brexit will not be over this month. Phase one will end but this is only related to the UK’s withdrawal.

The next stage, focusing on the UK’s future relationship with the EU, is even more important. This will determine what economic relationship the UK will have with the EU and consequently the rest of the world. It will determine the UK’s economic model for generations to come.

Therefore, the focus in 2020 will be less on public parliamentary clashes and more on behind-the-scenes trade negotiations. While there might be less news coverage, it’s crucial that the government hears the views of REC members throughout this process. As civil servants made clear to the REC – this is the moment we must fight our corner and ensure the industry’s views are known to government.

The government is anxious to start negotiations with the EU quickly. Despite trade negotiations typically lasting several years, the Withdrawal Agreement Bill states that the government will not be legally able to seek an extension to the current 31 December 2020 deadline. If talks don’t conclude before the end of the year and there’s no extension, the UK will leave the EU on no-deal terms.

At the same time as negotiating with the EU, the government is looking to negotiate trade deals with the rest of the world. The priority countries are the USA, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Again, the government’s ambition is to conclude these quickly.  

The REC’s time to influence these vital negotiations is going to be in the first few months of this year. 

We will be continuing to engage with the government so that they focus not just on goods, but also on our important UK services sector. Issues such as regulatory barriers for companies based abroad, the ability to share data and travel and work in other countries with ease are central parts to these deals.

And you can help. If you’re currently doing business abroad (inside and/or outside the EU) or are looking to do so, please contact me on chris.russell@rec.uk.com. We want to know how UK recruitment businesses work in other countries and what you would like to see the government prioritise in these trade talks.