Property Personnel says transition phase is key to successful Brexit
The UK’s longest-established estate agent recruitment consultancy says a successful Brexit will depend upon the UK securing a transition phase after it leaves the European Union in March 2019.
Property Personnel Managing Director Anthony Hesse said: “Securing a transition phase is nothing short of essential for Brexit to be a success. Such a transition would help solve the current row over money because fees paid during an implementation period would represent a partial down-payment on the final bill. Plus it would give us several years to set up a new customs system, as well as decreasing the number of new laws required in the immediate future. In short, for a successful Brexit, a period of transition is now the only way forward.”
Anthony Hesse said that an implementation phase would also provide vital extra time to increase the number of skilled UK workers in the construction industry, should there be any reduction in EU workers after Brexit. He explained: “UK construction is currently dependent on around 175,000 workers from the EU. At the moment, it’s uncertain how that situation might change after March 2019, so it’s important to have a plan in place.”
A recent survey of the industry carried out by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors indicated that almost a third (30%) of construction professionals said hiring non-UK workers was important to the success of their business.
Anthony Hesse added: “The property sector in particular needs to know that it will have a set duration to adapt to a new way of working. An implementation phase will reduce the pressure on companies to make early decisions that will hit jobs and incomes.
“Previous government targets have talked about building 250,000 new homes every year. That would be a challenging target even without Brexit on the horizon. But now that the departure from the European Union is ahead of us, the risk of a ‘cliff-edge’ scenario is very real.
“The government must do all it can to prevent that happening and provide a smooth transition to our final exit. For the sake of the sector – and the country - it’s crucial we get this right.”