EU referendum: finding the facts for Small Business

Another day, another EU referendum lobbying ‘brainwash’ from both sides.

Back in early March, at the Sage first EU referendum debate, the campaigns had only just kicked off, and the media was already saturated with divisive, often scaremongering rhetoric from famous names.

And yet, just 1% of small business owners we asked said they were influenced by big name personalities on either side, whereas 56% said the facts would be the strongest influence on their vote.  The prophets of doom on both sides whether British or from overseas may backfire as voters feel bullied by dire predictions.

What was missing then – and is still missing – is real clarity on the facts. We know that’s what our hard-working Small & Medium Businesses need in order to make an informed decision on 23 June.  It is understandable that no-one can predict the future in either outcome but we should have sensible data on the most of the areas in this complex and vitally important puzzle.

We see Sage’s role as passionately neutral on the EU questions – it is for you to decide.  Sage will shine the spotlight on the nation’s Small & Medium Businesses and helping them understand the relevant facts on both sides.

And the concerns of Britain’s entrepreneurs who keep the economy growing and drive job creation need to be heard. The amazing founder of Superfood Market, Gemma Price said, “We enjoy trade with the European Union and I’m very much pro-Europe.  But, there is ever growing regulation.  It’s like there is no commercial mind-set, they just seem to change things just because they want to. For example EU1169 Food Packaging Regulation was imposed in December 2014. Changes were critiqued for not being substantial and rushed. It required all food producers and retailers (small to large) to wholesale change packaging -- sending an estimated thousands of tons to landfill. The cost to my business alone was over ￡30,000, and I could give you 15 other examples from warehouse lighting, energy, emissions, food waste, taxation & website localisation -- in the in past 2-3 years alone.”

We know from our surveys that similar frustrations are held by many Small & Medium Business owners.  Another perspective we hear a lot from customers voiced by Janice Gordon, business consultant at The Problem Solver: “It’s clunky, it’s wasteful – but I believe we can do more inside.  We’re an island but we don’t need an island mentality”.

Whether to do with issues of exporting, legislation, regulation or free movement of people, small businesses will certainly be impacted by the vote in less than two weeks’ time, whatever the outcome, and it matters to the UK that we get this right. Small & Medium Business – and I won’t ever get tired of saying this -- are the lifeblood of the economy – making up 99% of the private sector, and creating 2/3 of new jobs in Britain.

So, we are entering the final furlong and many of you are either exhausted or getting excited with the EU debate.  We want to have one last chance to get some useful facts & data out there for Business- we’re especially delighted to hold #SageDebateEU in the North East – economic powerhouse and Sage’s home. In fact, the North-East is the UK’s ONLY net export region. There’s still time to register to join us in person on Monday, and if you can’t make it, please do join us for the live stream on YouTube. There’s an exciting panel lined up, chaired by Steph McGovern, and we’ve got fantastic small business experts joining us too. And you can follow the conversation on Twitter and add your own voice with #SageDebateEU.

So -- days away from the referendum, and from Sage’s small businesses survey, the race has tightened. Loosely borrowing words from The Clash: should we stay or should we go?  What will affect my business? What issues should I be aware of? There’s still a lot for our Small & Medium Businesses to consider, and I’m looking forward to exploring the answers to these questions & more on Monday. See you there!