Businesses leaving a Government seminar on how to prepare for Brexit said there was a mood of 鈥渃oncern鈥 and feeling of being 鈥渙verwhelmed鈥 by potential hurdles 鈥 with one summing it all up in a single word: 鈥渟cary鈥.
Others complained of a lack of certainty and the 鈥渋mminent threat of no-deal鈥, with one businessperson simply calling the entire Brexit rigmarole 鈥渟urreal鈥.
About 40 businesses were represented at the first of two sessions at a Brexit Business Readiness Event held in Plymouth鈥檚 Jurys Inn hotel and hosted by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
The roadshow, which was not open to journalists, has been schlepping around the 海角视频, giving out information under the banner 鈥淕et ready for Brexit鈥 with promotional information bearing the strap-line 鈥淏rexit 31 October鈥.
Companies from across Cornwall, Devon and Somerset travelled to the Brexit Business Readiness Event in Plymouth, representing sectors such as food and manufacturing, and the public sector and business organisations too.
They said briefings by Government officials and information handed out had been helpful but, nevertheless, there was a feeling of frustration and bewilderment because, with still no certainty of whether there will be a no-deal exit or even no exit at all at the end of October, there are still many loose ends that are unable to be tied.
One businessman left the seminar with a sigh and simply said: 鈥淪cary鈥.
Another said: 鈥淐hrist, is this really going to hit us?鈥
He said there was exasperation at the 鈥渙verwhelming amount of change that is going to come if we crash out of the EU鈥.
He said the event had been worthwhile, with a lot of information given about the impact on international trade and data, but added: 鈥淭his is the situation now, what if we get a transition, or no-deal?鈥
Several of the business bosses asked not to be identified, mainly because they were concerned about how their comments would be viewed by clients and customers.
One medical devices company chief said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a good seminar but there is a huge amount for us to deal with, such as unwelcome administration and costs. Another barrier to business.
鈥淧eople are just beginning to understand the details and ramifications for businesses that employ people and pay wages. No-deal is a particular worry.鈥
He said firms were concerned about any exit deal 鈥渓ess good than the current arrangement鈥 and added: 鈥淏ut that鈥檚 any scenario. It will raise costs, make business harder, make employment harder, and at the moment when businesses are already struggling.鈥
Another business boss merely shuddered and mentioned 鈥渁n impending deadline with no level of certainty.鈥
A West Country drone manufacturer said the symposium had been helpful but added: 鈥淲e still don鈥檛 know what we are preparing for. But this has given us more focus on what we should be thinking about.鈥
But some businesses were happy to be named. Sophie Hardinge-Walsh, of Devon-based book exporter Mallory International, said Brexit was 鈥渧ery uncertain, very surreal鈥 and added: 鈥淚t鈥檚 replacing something straight forward with something that is going to be extremely complicated, and that鈥檚 jut the transition period.
Brexit news...
鈥淲e are still as clueless as we were three years ago, after the referendum.鈥
Kevin Mackrodt, chief technical officer at Plymouth-based market-leading film coatings firm Artemis Opticals, said the event was 鈥渦seful鈥 and it was good to have access to the assembled experts.
But he said there was an atmosphere of 鈥渃oncern鈥 and that the current situation could change 鈥渧ery dramatically鈥 in the coming months.
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Business Live's South West Business Reporter is William Telford. William has more than a decade's experience reporting on the business scene in Plymouth and the South West. He is based in Plymouth but covers the entire region.
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Artemis exports about 60% of its products with half of that going to the EU and that 鈥渦ncertainty鈥 was a major problem and added: 鈥淲e want to make sure there are no restrictions to trade and that we are prepared and do not have delays.鈥
Sue Wallace, of the tourism business Visit Exeter and Surrounding Areas, said the Readiness event had been 鈥渆nlightening鈥 and information was presented in a calm and clear manner.
Caroline Davies, of Cornwall鈥檚 Rowe Farming, said the event had been 鈥渋nformative鈥 and highlighted areas where more information was required, and said: 鈥淭here certainly going to be change.鈥
