Brexit negotiations and the potential impact on staffing

Like many of my fellow recruitment professionals, I have been reflecting on Theresa May’s recent speech, in which she announced her priorities for Brexit negotiations.  I find myself feeling much the same way as I did after the referendum - cautiously optimistic but not without concerns.

What is certain is that the ability to recruit talented EU nationals will remain of high importance to the UK financial services sector going forward.  The skills shortage remains and, whilst the Prime Minister has assured us that the UK will always welcome the ‘brightest and best’ to study and work in the UK, her commitment to controlling the number of people coming to Britain from the EU remains a very real concern within the recruitment sector.  Will new talent want to come to the UK if they know they may have to leave again before too long?  Is it possible that business will, in time, be hit by an immigration skills levy on EU workers?  Will it all become ‘just too difficult’ to recruit the necessary talent from overseas?

Despite all of the continued uncertainty, I find myself concluding on a positive note.  More than ever, UK businesses are going to need specialist assistance to help them navigate a ‘hard’ Brexit – expertise that will come from talented accountants and finance professionals with the skills to help guide them through the Brexit maze.