Life After Brexit
Photo by Christian Lue on Unsplash
2021 means big changes for the construction industry, not only in the UK but for EU distributors also. With the UK’s Brexit deal now done, and concerns of a no-deal Brexit behind us, what does this new era mean for our industry?
Post Brexit border controls will come into force by July 2021. For construction, this means keeping records for the import of ‘standard goods’, and customs declarations made within six months of import. From July, goods coming in from the EU will need full safety declarations and tariffs will need paying at the border.
Things will inevitably change for laborers too. In London alone, non-UK nationals make up 40% of construction workers building in the capital (ONS, 2018). This change, therefore, will no doubt leave a large gap in the workforce if those opportunities are no longer as easily accessible to non-UK workers as they were before. Last year, the Government promised an investment of £1.3bn into the UK’s infrastructure, meaning a lot of future projects, in turn requiring a lot of skilled labourers. It would be fair to assume therefore, that more will need to be done to encourage and grow domestic talent in order close the gap created by the loss of European workers.
But looking forward, how will Elite Landscapes handle these post-Brexit changes? Well, it’s looking like business as usual. For our part, we have put in place all necessary measures to ensure that we are abreast of the latest information and new requirements, to guarantee our clients minimal disruption. We will continue to work with our excellent EU suppliers in this new capacity and will take on any challenges as and when they arise.
It’s clear also, to see that Covid-19 has had and will continue to have, a lasting impact on the way business is conducted across all sectors, today and for the foreseeable future. This past year, we’ve all had to rely so much more on remote communication, working from home, and undoubtedly dodgy Wi-Fi. But these changes haven’t been all bad, in fact they have been quite insightful. Fast forwarding the inevitable transition into a more virtual age has meant that working with international talent has become easier, creating even more possibilities for companies to grow and expand. For Elite Landscapes, this is nothing new. Online communication with our overseas suppliers continues to be fast and efficient, and we have been able to make the transition with relative ease. For our clients, this means a continued surety in our ability to deliver high quality, brilliant work, despite the uncertainty of the changing times.