The Brexit debate is still dividing Britain - and the country's leading exporters are still divided about what Brexit could mean for them.
As the political paralysis goes on over Britain's vote to leave the European Union, we've spoken to winners of the prestigious Queen's Awards to see how their preparation for Brexit is going.
The Queen's Awards for Enterprise are given each year to 海角视频 businesses for outstanding achievement in areas including international trade and innovation. Its winners include some of the 海角视频's most successful businesses.
BusinessLive correspondents across the country have spoken to previous winners to find out what they think needs to happen before Brexit day.
Unsurprisingly opinions are mixed about Brexit - as they are in the country as a whole. But these export experts all agree that businesses need to accelerate their preparations for the 海角视频's departure from the EU.
And they all agree that the country needs stability so that businesses can continue to invest, grow and create jobs.
This year, more than 200 businesses across the 海角视频 were honoured in the Queen's Awards. The 129 companies honoured for International Trade had to show they had achieved "substantial growth in overseas earning and in commercial success".
We'll be bringing you all the latest news on Brexit and business here on BusinessLive.
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Will Brexit bring 'short-term pain for long-term gain'?
One of the 海角视频’s most decorated business leaders believes a No-Deal Brexit could widen horizons for 海角视频 exporters.
Sean Ramsden heads up Ramsden International, a £50 million company that specialises in sending British groceries abroad.
A three-time Queen’s Award winner, the Grimsby company has again been crowned Yorkshire and Humber Regional Exporter of the Year by the British Chambers of Commerce, with the accolade joining the Northern Powerhouse 2019 Champion Exporter and Grocer Gold Exporter of the Year when it comes to recent wins.
It sells 24,000 product lines to more than 650 retailers in 133 countries, and has sales offices in Hong Kong, UAE, South Africa, Australia and Canada.
“My view is short term pain for long term gain,” Mr Ramsden, a member of the Department of International Trade's Strategic Trade Advisory Group said.
"We look at where customer demand is growing, and it is not Europe. It is China, India, Asia and Latin America. My hope is Brexit means dealing with the world, and exporters will recalibrate their horizons.”
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A third generation evolution of the family grocery store that dates back to 1940s post-war Britain, his father entered 海角视频 wholesaling with Nisa – now a key pillar of The Co-operative – to protect independent retailers from the arrival of the major multiples. Cambridge and Harvard graduate Mr Ramsden took the model international in the early Nineties.
“When I started 25 years ago people talked about France, Ireland and Benelux,” he said. “The world has moved on. It is now Asia, India, China and Africa, and that’s probably where the focus wants to be. My hope is that Brexit will enable us to really cast our horizons wider than previously.”
A third of the sales head to Europe, with part of the 90-strong team tasked with documentation, re-labelling, re-packing for different markets.
Deal or no deal - how to get your business ready for Brexit
“We know what it takes to get products into third countries, we already have to do that,” Mr Ramsden said.
“If that happens with the EU we have the capacity and expertise to do that, so we are a little bit more comfortable about the challenges Brexit may bring.”
He believes financial opportunity may well be there for those who have to accommodate such a burden.
“There is a still a huge question mark about what Brexit looks like,” Mr Ramsden said. “It seems to be that either there will be No-Deal or some variation of a second deal. The latter means it is business as usual for the next few years as we negotiate what the final take on Brexit will be.
“No-Deal has much bigger implications, clearly No-Deal brings a lot of challenges between 海角视频 and EU business. We are in a fortunate position with regard to exporting, one third is European.
“For me, a No-Deal Brexit is likely to result in a further weakening of the pound, and that would help exports to Europe and the wider world.
“The pound has been expensive for a long time. It has really hindered exports – the country’s exports have been lower than they should have been because the pound has been unnaturally strong, due to the relative strength of our economy in comparison to the rest of the EU.
“Some of these challenges may be offset by pricing advantages of a weakening of the pound.”
'Our customers think the British people are just quite mad'
Michael Gould is Managing Director of Richardson’s Healthcare, an award-winning firm that manufactures operating tables and birthing mattresses in Sefton.
Mr Gould said if he had his way, Brexit wouldn’t happen at all.
According to Mr Gould, the most difficult thing for his firm was the uncertainty in the country, adding: “Until we know what the deal is, it’s very difficult to plan. Obviously you can make some provision and you can check your supplies and check if there are going to be tariffs involved, but it’s so difficult and so close to the point where we probably will leave - but you just don’t know.
"There’s no clear direction from the government - they don’t know themselves.”
He said 50% of his firm’s products go to European Union members, adding: “Our customers think the British people are just quite mad. Incredulity is the word they use - they just cannot believe it.
“We have got the best deal in the world already - part of the world’s biggest trading block.
“I have just come back from Sweden and they do have an immigration problem, a massive rise in crime and a lot of unemployment - but we don’t have those problems. I just don’t get it. I think an awful lot of people who voted Brexit are xenophobic for no good reason.”
Mr Gould said because he sells in euros and dollars, his firm has actually “made a fortune” out of Brexit - but that wasn’t enough to outweigh the negatives.
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“I would sacrifice all of that to go back and for the country to have voted remain in 2016.
“We need stability. I am getting phone calls saying our clients need to get extra stock in.
“The problem is we have got a lot of customers who are now going to protect themselves by looking at second sourcing. The danger is maybe they will get a better price and a backup if the worst happens. It’s always a risk for us.
“You work very hard to protect your market but now we are giving competitors the chance to quote because customers need certainty of supplies.”
The Bootle firm was honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category for outstanding short term growth in overseas sales over the last three years back in April.
And Mr Gould said an ideal scenario from Brexit would be a second referendum where the country voted to remain, but he did say the deal struck by Theresa May was “pretty good all around” - and that if the 海角视频 left on those terms, “we wouldn’t have a problem”.
But it’s not firms like Richardson’s that would struggle in the event of a hard Brexit, as medical products tend to be zero-tariff, he said, adding that it would spell trouble for the food and agricultural industries.
He added: "I am not very optimistic, but it’s onwards and upwards.
“The one thing I do agree with is that at the end of the day, British businesses want to survive and thrive - and they will have to find a way around whatever scenario they are faced with. They will find a way around it.”
Music maker: Business needs to get ready
Warwick Music Group is a Tamworth-based designer of plastic musical instruments and aims to make music accessible and fun.
The company was conceived by former engineering student and musician Hugh Rashleigh and now 70 per cent of its sales come from exporting to markets in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.
Chief executive Steven Greenall is also an export champion for the Department for International Trade.
He told BusinessLive: "Business needs to take accountability for Brexit - whether you agree or disagree is irrelevant.
"There will always be external factors that we can't control such as exchange rates, the world economy, even US trading relationships with China.
"Business owners and business leaders need to treat Brexit in the same way - identify and then manage the risks to your business.
"But there are things that business should do and should have already done in terms of mitigating any downfall and exploiting opportunities.
"Talk to customers and suppliers, particularly those in Europe, as they want to understand ‘the why' of Brexit and this is a conversation best had face to face.
"Also, look at opportunities outside Europe.
"We are leveraging our networks in North America and Asia - both significant growth markets for us.
"By working with the Department for International Trade, accessing information from 海角视频 embassies and developing relationships, we are opening new doors and winning new business.
"Business might be frustrated with Brexit but Brexit need not frustrate business."
Components firm is ready to act fast
Gate 7 specialises in the supply of printed components to the construction, agricultural and industrial markets and has global contracts with the likes of JCB and Volvo, Komatsu and Bobcat.
Last month the business was presented with its second Queen’s Award for Enterprise for international trade.
Kate Wickham, MD of Gate 7 in Gateshead, said the firm is getting ready to take adavantage of any opportunities.
She said: “Brexit will no doubt have an impact on the 海角视频 however it is the type of Brexit that will determine the challenges we will face. Whatever the outcome Gate 7 will be looking to minimise the impact on our customer base and continue to maintain effective levels of supply.
“I believe we are as prepared the best we can be despite the levels of uncertainty and constantly changing environment that we are in. We have invested in our manufacturing capacity, people and process to remain flexible to fluctuating customer demands.
“We have automated the export documentation and process to eliminate the risk of unnecessary hold ups at the ports and we have maintained good communication with customers and suppliers to minimise risk.”
In terms of future, Gate 7 is getting ready to act fast.
Ms Wickham said: “At this point opportunities are not clear however we believe there will be opportunities and we will make sure we are well positioned to take advantage.
“Depending on the type of Brexit there will be an impact for every business not just importers and exporters. We are prepared for fluctuating customer demands and we will be looking to support our customers and suppliers 100% through the transition.”
Uncertainty is stifling SMEs
Pitchmark, of Coalpit Heath in South Gloucestershire, won a Queen's Award in 2019 for its success in exporting line-marking paint and line-marking machines for sports pitches.
The family firm's products were even used at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil and at Euro 2016.
Asked about Brexit uncertainty, managing director Tim Rodman said: "Essentially, as a Queen’s Award-winning family business, the majority of our sales are currently overseas.
"The lack of progress in Parliament is continuing to add to increasing uncertainty amongst our distributor network which is stifling the growth of SME’s – the backbone of business in this country.
"What do we want to see done right now? Someone to make a decision that puts the country ahead of their personal agenda. At this point, we need to unite as a nation and move forwards.
"Too long have the politicians of this United Kingdom been procrastinating and since the result of the referendum, the lack of decision making is frightening and if this was a business, politicians would have been sacked two years ago!"